EP2766912B1 - Mechanically lockable hand switch - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a hand or chair switch for controlling a control or operating current of electric motors in linear transmissions, e.g. for the operation of hospital beds, tables or the like. Such switches include a switch housing having a key top and a bottom forming a receiving space. In this receiving space a circuit board is accommodated with micro-switches, which have a micro-switch housing and a spring-biased plunger therein. Upon actuation of the keys by a user, the resilient or resilient key is depressed on the plunger of the microswitch and thus actuates the microswitch to control the control or operating current. Furthermore, such a manual switch has at least one locking device which can be transferred by the user from a blocking position blocking the key into a release position releasing the key.

Such trained as a hand switch switch are for example from the EP 0 480 221 B1 and the WO 2005/036576 A1 known. Both documents deal with the problem of mechanical locking devices for the keys in a manual control or a manual switch. These hand switches include one or more buttons in a top connected to a base. Between the upper part and lower part of a receiving space is formed, in which a circuit board is arranged with, are mounted on the microswitch. These microswitches have a spring-biased button which is depressed when the buttons of the upper shell and thus the control current for the actuation the operating current for the or the electric drives controls. Usually, the two buttons are arranged in pairs next to each other to allow each of the two opposing drive types for each electric motor. The proposed solutions propose about a central axis rotatable locking devices which are rotatable from the release position to the blocking position. In the locked position, the locking devices block the depression of the keys in the upper member onto the tappets of the microswitches. So they are between the bottom of the elastic keys and the upper housing part of the microswitch so that a depression of the keys on the plunger of the microswitch is not possible. In the rotated release position, the two laterally projecting locking arms of the locking device release this lock and allow the keys to press down on the microswitch.

US 4504707 A discloses a handset according to the preamble of claim 1.

The EP 0 480 221 B1 works with pneumatic switches, but with a similar principle with a rotatable locking device which avoids the depression of the keys in the blocking position by unilaterally engaging in the opening. This has the disadvantage that the one-sided insertion can cause tilting of the keys. The WO 2005/036 576 A1 discloses a further embodiment of a mechanical lock.

US Pat. No. 5,803,237 A . JP 2010 104 792 A . CN 102 097 224 A . GB 2 183 917 A such as US 6,201,199 B1 represent further prior art.

These mechanical locks transfer the blocking forces to the microswitch and to the board on which the microswitch is soldered. This can lead to the destruction of the microswitch and / or the solder joints in continuous operation, which causes a system error.

The invention has for its object to further develop a generic handset that the disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially avoided and in particular destruction of the solder joints of the board and system components is prevented by excessive loads on the keys.

This object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1, characterized in that the blocking element is designed to transfer the pressure exerted on the keys as large as possible on the switch housing and / or the board that the blocking element has a lifting device, which in execution of a Translational movement of the locking element from the locking transferred to the release position that the lifting device has a stationary lower plate or buttons and a relative to this lower plate movable lifting plate, and that are formed in pairs complementary ramps between the lower plate and the lifting plate or the keys.

In the proposed embodiment, the locking device has a longitudinally displaceable locking element, which is designed to be transferred in execution of a translational movement from a lowered release position into a raised locking position. In the lowered release position thus depression of the keys on the plunger of the microswitch is possible. When moving into the blocking position, the blocking element - also referred to as a locking slide - performs such a vertical movement that the blocking element either rests on the housing or the switch housing or both and thus prevents the depression of the keys, but at the same time also the compressive forces at least for the most part the switch housing and not the sensitive system components transfers.

The means for realizing the height adjustment of the locking element comprise in pairs against each other and complementarily acting ramps, which slide together in the context of translational movement under height offset.

It is also possible that the blocking element surrounds the board on the outside, that rests on the housing lower part, and only a horizontally extending locking or bridging arm extends at least in sections over the board, but this does not necessarily have to touch. Another solution provides that the locking device is designed to transmit the pressure forces completely flat on the board. Preferably, a housing portion of the housing is provided, on which the board is supported flat, so that no sensitive system components absorb the pressure forces.

The lockable handset can be used in a side part of a bed. The mechanical locking device for the keys is very universal and easily adaptable to other types of microswitches. Different types of microswitches can be used in the switch. A first embodiment of micro-switches has a low overall height and switches a control circuit for controlling a load relay, which switches the respective operating current of the electric motors. The advantage of the mechanical locking device is that it is adaptable to the flat micro-switches, so that a hand switch for a bed or for a chair is also very flat gestaltungsbar. Another embodiment of micro-switches has other switching contacts, which switch the operating current of the electric motors directly. The advantage here is the simple design and easy mountability.

Preferably, the proposed switch is made of plastic manufactured, in particular ABS or polyamide or combinations thereof.

It is essential in all proposed solutions that the blocking element is designed to transmit in the locked position the pressure force exerted on the key (s) as widely as possible, in particular preferably on the housing or on the circuit board and the housing. This can also be at least partially transmitted to the switch housing of the microswitch, on the board and the housing. Decisive is a wide-area power transmission to avoid voltage peaks.

The proposed lockable hand switch is preferably designed as a hand switch, e.g. However, it may also be configured as a chair switch, which may be e.g. integrated into the back of a chair.

Fig. 1A

Eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform des mechanischen Sperrschalters, ausgebildet als Handschalter für einen Sessel;

Fig. 1B

ein vergrößerter Längsschnitt des Bereichs der Tasten eines Handschalters gemäß Fig. 1A in Freistellung, der nicht zur vorliegenden Erfindung gehört;

Fig. 1C

ein vergrößerter Längsschnitt der Tasten eines Handschalters gemäß Fig. 1A in Sperrstellung, der nicht zur vorliegenden Erfindung gehört;

Fig. 2A

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines als Sesselschalter zum Einbau in einen Lehnsessel ausgebildeten Sperrschalters;

Fig. 2B

einen Längsschnitt des Sperrschalters gemäß Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2C

einen Querschnitt des Sperrschalters gemäß Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2D

eine erste perspektivische Ansicht der Hebeeinrichtung des Schalters gemäß Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2E

eine zweite perspektivische Ansicht der Hebeeinrichtung des Schalters gemäß Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3A -6B

jeweils paarweise vergrößerte Längschnitte verschiedener Ausführungsformen von Handschaltern, die nicht zur vorliegenden Erfindung gehören, , wobei jeweils die Fig. A den Schalter in der Freistellung und die Fig. B den Schalter in der Sperrstellung;

Fig. 7A-7C

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Weiterbildung des Handschalters gemäß Fig. 2A-2E.

Further details, advantages and features of the invention can be taken from the following description of the figures, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and are explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1A

A perspective view of a first embodiment of the mechanical lock switch, designed as a hand switch for a chair;

Fig. 1B

an enlarged longitudinal section of the area of the keys of a manual switch according to Fig. 1A in exemption, which does not belong to the present invention;

Fig. 1C

an enlarged longitudinal section of the keys of a manual switch according to Fig. 1A in locked position, which does not belong to the present invention;

Fig. 2A

a perspective view of a trained as a chair switch for installation in an armchair lock switch;

Fig. 2B

a longitudinal section of the lock switch according to Fig. 2A ;

Fig. 2C

a cross section of the lock switch according to Fig. 2A ;

Fig. 2D

a first perspective view of the lifting device of the switch according to Fig. 2A ;

Fig. 2E

a second perspective view of the lifting device of the switch according to Fig. 2A ;

Figs. 3A-6B

in each case in pairs enlarged longitudinal sections of various embodiments of manual switches, which do not belong to the present invention, wherein in each case the Figure A shows the switch in the exemption and Figure B shows the switch in the locked position.

Figs. 7A-7C

a perspective view of a development of the manual switch according to Fig. 2A-2E ,

Identical or equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

Accordingly, there is in the Fig. 1A hand switch 2 shown in perspective from an elongated switch housing, which is formed by an upper part 4 and a lower part 6, which are each formed as a half-shell and their edges are connected to each other at the joints with the inclusion of a receiving space preferably for repair purposes releasably. The geometric configuration of the manual switch is not relevant in the present case and here represents only a preferred embodiment.

The manual switch 2 comprises two keys 8, 10, each forming a pair and intended to control an electric motor of a linear drive for the chair in one direction and in the opposite direction. The signal transmission from the manual switch to the electric motor takes place either via a cable, not shown, which is connected to the manual switch 2, or via a wireless transmission.

The operating end 12 of a recorded within the manual lock switch for blocking the keys 8, 10 projects through a rectangular opening in the upper part 4 above the pair of keys so through that the operation by inserting a pointed object, for. B. a pin in a Eindrücköffnung at the top of the operating end 12 is possible.

The FIGS. 1B and 1C show an enlarged longitudinal section through the handset 2 in the area of the keys 8, 10. Accordingly, the lower part 6 comprises a plurality of spaced-apart vertical webs on which a circuit board 16 is fixed by fixing screws, not shown or after assembly of the housing parts 4, 6. On the board 16 in addition to the required circuits and electrical components, in particular two correspondingly arranged with the keys microswitch 18 are arranged, of which in the present case only the key 8 associated microswitch 18 is visible. Each microswitch consists of a switch housing, from the top of which a spring-biased plunger 20 protrudes. This plunger 20 is arranged in the installed position below a downwardly projecting vertical web of the key 8. The key 8 is formed as a cover-shaped plastic element which has a peripheral flange which engages in the installed position the edge of a passage opening for the keys 8, 10 in the upper part 4.

In the in FIG. 1B Exemption shown are the keys 8, 10 niederdrückbar, whereby the pressure on the plunger 20 of the microswitch 18 is transferable to the actuation thereof. The locking slide 14 is formed as a one-piece injection molded part with a lower horizontal web which defines a horizontal plane and rests flat in the installed position on the board to distribute the pressure, and three webs extending transversely to the horizontal web level, namely an actuating web 15 provided at a first end and two at the opposite end to the outer diameter of the keys 8, 10 mutually spaced locking ribs 22, 24. By actuation of the actuating web 15 of the translationally movable gate valve 14 from the release position according to Fig. 1B , in which the blocking webs 22, 24 allow the depression of the keys 8, 10, in the blocking position according to Fig. 1C movable, in which the locking webs 22, 24 are on both sides below the collar of the keys 8, 10 and thus block depression of the keys 8, 10 and the exerted compressive force flat on the board 16 and transmits from the latter via the vertical webs on the switch housing 2.

The in the FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment of the lock switch is designed as a chair switch for installation in the armrest of an armchair. This embodiment consists of a circular cylindrical switch housing, with a lower housing part 26 and a cap-shaped upper housing part 27, which are formed as one-piece plastic parts, and of which the upper housing part 27 has a circumferential mounting flange 28, which in the installed position after insertion of the switch housing in a corresponding receiving opening of a chair at the edge of this flies to and can be covered by a snap-on cover 29. Visible is thus only the operating end of the chair switch with the two semicircular keys 30, 32, between which a spacer bar 34 of the upper housing part 27 extends.

In the spacer bar 34 a rectangular opening is centrally formed, through which the actuating web 36 of a locking slide 38 protrudes.

This trained as a lifting device gate valve consists of the in the Figures 2D and 2E in perspective shown plates, the view in the FIG. 2D a view of these plates from below and the Figure 2E represents a view of the two plates from above. The locking slide is thus formed by a lower mounting plate arranged in the bottom plate 102 and a complementary trained lift plate 104 which rests in the installed position on the lower plate 102 and has a central opening through which the actuating web 36 of the lower plate 102 projects. The substantially circular disk-shaped plates 102, 104 have at their peripheral edges on several semi-arc-shaped recesses for the location fixation in the switch housing. Between the plates 102, 104 lifting means are formed, which cause a translation of the lower plate 102 in a lifting movement of the upper plate 104 relative to the stationary lower plate 102. In the present case, these lifting means comprise a plurality of depressions 106 formed in the lower plate 102, which each have lower run-on bevels 108 at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the horizontal at the left-hand sides in the figure. On the underside of the lifting plate 104, a total of seven ramp projections 110 are formed in one piece in the present embodiment, which may be of different widths and correspond in installation position with the recesses 106 and lower chamfers 108 in the lower plate 102, ie on the left in the figure, have upper ramps 112, which act in the installed position complementary to the lower ramps 108 to cause a stroke of the lifting plate 104 in the locked position upon translation of the lower plate 102 by the sliding of the complementary ramps 108, 112 together.

The locking slide 38 further comprises a longitudinally extending latching arm 44, which latching either in the in Fig. 2B shown release position engages in a corresponding release recess in the bottom of the spacer bar 34 or in a spaced from the release recess locking recess for fixing in locking position in the bottom of the spacer bar 34.

Like in the Figure 2C shown, the spacer bar 34 is U-shaped, the opening facing downward as shown. In a manner not shown and according to another embodiment of the locking slide also not shown in sections, this has formations or indentations, which correspond with indentations, formations or cuts or with spring bars of the legs of the U-shaped spacer bar so that they are elastically yielding are and are designed as a surmountable latching. When the gate valve is moved from one end position to the other end position, this resistance formed by the latching is overcome and the gate valve is simultaneously held in the respective end position.

In another embodiment, also not shown, but according to the invention, the ramp projections are attached to the keys or formed on it. The top plate is not present in this embodiment, which greatly simplifies the assembly of the inhibitor switch. In other words, a part of the lifting device is integrated with the keys. The attached to the keys ramp projections according to this embodiment also have correspondingly formed ramps, wherein the slope of these chamfers defines the resistance to be overcome.

In the Distanzsteg 34 a control diode 46 is further lowered installed, with which by color coding the actuation direction and / or actuation of the keys 30, 32 can be displayed. The control diode 46 is like the micro-switches 40, 42 connected to a board 48 which is fixed in position on the upper end of the housing base 26. Also in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 the switch housing thus consists of the lower switch housing 26, which serves the function of the lower half-shell for supporting the board 48 according to the embodiment in FIG. 1 has, and a housing upper part 27, which together with the housing lower part housing part 26 forms the receiving space for the circuit board 48 and the electrical components. The lower housing part 26 and the upper housing part 27 are detachably connected to each other with screws in the peripheral ring.

The FIGS. 3 to 6 show various embodiments of not belonging to the present invention locking devices in enlarged longitudinal section installed in a manual switch according to Figure 1A , In these figures, in addition to the locking device for the sake of clarity, only the essential components, so the housing upper shell 4, the button, the board 16, and the micro-switch 18 shown to illustrate the different configurations of the locking slide.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 For example, the key 50 has a single-sided slot-shaped recess 52, in which the horizontal section 57 of the blocking slide 54, which is slidably received in the upper half-shell 4 of the switch housing, can be inserted for blocking. In the FIG. 3A is this locking slide 54 in the figure left release position. In the FIG. 3B On the other hand, the blocking slide 54 shown in FIG. 3A is displaced into the right blocking position so that the free end of the horizontal section 51 of the blocking slide 54 projects into the one-sided recess 52 of FIG Button 50 engages. The pressing pressure is thus transmitted via the key 50 and the locking slide 54 on the upper half-shell 56 of the switch housing to avoid loading of the electrical components within the switch housing.

At the in FIG. 4 illustrated embodiment, a cross-sectional L-shaped key is integrally formed on the upper half-shell 56 of the switch housing and connected by means of a film hinge 58 with this. A mounting position in the upper horizontal web 60 of this button forms the actual touch area and a vertically extending at the free end of the horizontal web 60 vertical web 62 protrudes up to a certain distance above the board 16. The locking slide 64 is also translational in this embodiment, ie arranged longitudinally displaceable between the locking and release position on the board 16 and has at its rear right-hand free end a thickening 66, which bridges the distance between the lower end of the vertical web 62 and the surface of the board 16 in the blocking position to a depression of the button 60th to lock. At the same time, the pressing force of the button 60 via the locking slide 64 is transferred flat to the board 16 and the lower half-shell (not shown).

The in the FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrated embodiments of the locking devices are formed by the operating principle slightly different than the embodiments described so far. Namely, in these embodiments, the slider is not used for blocking, but for transmitting the pressing force from the key 86 to the plunger of the microswitch 18. In both embodiments, the locking device is thus not designed as a locking slide, but as a transfer slider for transmitting the pressing force of the key 86 in the release position. The release slide again has a seated on the board 16 in the installed position horizontal plate 88th which, in this embodiment, is additionally formed with a central opening around the microswitch 18. A in the installed position obliquely to the horizontal plate 88 extending vertical web 92 is provided with differently shaped, the microswitch 18 projecting spring arms 94, 96, each shown in the figure A release position of FIGS. 5 and 6 sit with a common portion between the bottom of the key 86 and the top of the plunger 20 of the microswitch 18 and so transferred the pressing force of the key 86 on the plunger 20 for its operation and one in each case in the figure B. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrated blocking position in which the spring arms 94, 96 release the space between the bottom of the key 86 and the top of the plunger 20 so that depression of the key 86, although a deflection of the spring arms 94, 96 causes, but not an actuation of Plunger 20 of the microswitch 18. For this purpose, the spring arms 94, 96 integrally formed on wavy spring sections 98 integrally formed on the vertical web of the release slide 19.

The figures show for the sake of clarity, only a microswitch increased regularly. It is a simplified representation insofar as the microswitches are regularly but not necessarily always locked in pairs or in groups.

The FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate a particular development of a chair switch according to the FIGS. 2A to 2E , The difference between this embodiment and the embodiments according to FIGS FIGS. 2A to 2E extends in another embodiment of the latching of the locking slide 38 in the release position and in the blocking position. To better illustrate the structure and operation of components such as the keys 30, 32 and the micro-switches 40, 42 are not shown in the perspective views. While the FIG. 7A illustrates the release order, is according to the FIG. 7B the locking slide 38 is moved into the blocking position. In this case, the locking slide 38 is connected to a first latching part. According to the presentation of the FIGS. 7A to 7C the first latching part is formed by a projection 129, which is connected to the locking slide 38.

This first latching part corresponds to a second latching part, which is connected to the housing. The second latching part is here a recess 128, which is part of the spacer bar 34. The spacer bar 34 is formed as described above part of the housing. Further, a resilient portion 127 is provided, which is arranged adjacent to the recess 128. When moving the locking slide 38 from the release to the locked position and back of the projection 129 passes the resilient portion 127 of recess 128 to recess 128 and pushes him something to the side, so that the projection 129 in the release position and in the locked position in the each recess 128 is arranged or there dives into something.

For reasons of simplified functional description, the variants comprise predominantly displaceable or translationally operating blocking devices. The translationally operating blocking devices realize the height offset, preferably by means of chamfers or ramps sliding off against one another on the complementary parts.

The subject matter of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual claims, but also from the combination of the individual claims with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

handset

4

top

6

lower part

8th

button

10

button

12

actuating end

14

blocking slide

15

actuating bar

16

circuit board

18

microswitch

20

tappet

22

barrier flight

24

barrier flight

26

Housing bottom

27

Housing top

28

mounting flange

29

cover ring

30

button

32

button

34

distance web

36

actuating bar

38

blocking slide

40

microswitch

42

microswitch

44

detent arm

46

control diode

48

circuit board

50

button

51

Horizontal section

52

recess

54

blocking slide

56

upper half shell

58

shaft joint

60

horizontal web

62

vertical web

64

blocking slide

66

thickening

86

button

88

Horizontal plate

90

release slide

92

vertical web

94

spring arm

96

spring arm

98

spring section

100

release slide

102

lower plate

104

lifting plate

106

deepening

108

lower ramp

110

ramp projections

112

upper ramp

127

elastic section

128

recess

129

head Start

Claims (2)

1. Hand or chair switch for controlling a control or operating current of electric motors in linear drives or the like, having a switch housing which has an upper part comprising at least one key (8, 10; 30, 32; 50; 60; 86) and a lower part for forming a receiving space, a circuit board (16, 48) which is accommodated in the receiving space and has microswitches (18) which each have a microswitch housing and a tappet (20) which is spring-loaded therein, wherein the keys (8, 10; 30, 32; 50; 60; 86) when operated by a user of the plungers (20) actuate the respective microswitch (18) to control the control or operating current, and wherein the hand or chair switch comprises at least one locking element which can be transferred between a locking position locking the key (8, 10; 30, 32; 50; 60; 86) and a release position releasing the key (8, 10; 30, 32; 50; 60; 86), the locking element being designed in such a way as to be able to transfer the pressure exerted on the key (8, 10; 30, 32; 50; 60); 86) to the switch housing and/or the circuit board (16, 48) over as large an area as possible, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the locking element has a lifting device which transfers the locking element from the locking position into the release position when a translational movement is executed, in that the lifting device has a stationary lower plate (102) and a lifting plate (104) or keys which can be moved relative to this lower plate, and in that complementary ramp slopes (108, 112) are formed in pairs between the lower plate (102) and the lifting plate (104) or the keys.
2. Hand or chair switch as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the locking element is adapted to transmit the pressure at least partially to the switch housing of the microswitch (18).

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