ES2753633T3 - One push button actuated switch with anti-jam guidance system - Google Patents

Abstract

A push button operated switch (10) including: - a housing (20) made of electrically insulating material, having a bottom wall (21), side walls (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) that are attached to the wall bottom (21) and an open side (21 ') opposite the bottom wall (21), - a push button (30) that can be operated to command an electrical commutation of the switch (10) and that has a body provided with side walls (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) passing through said open side (21 '), the push button (10) being adapted to slide with respect to the casing (20) along a sliding axis (ZZ), between a forward position and a rearward position, - a system of spatially distributed guides adapted to guide the sliding of the push button (30) with respect to the housing (20) along said sliding axis (ZZ); wherein the spatially distributed guide system comprises: - first guide elements (22, 32) operatively interposed between the side walls of the push button (30) and the side walls of the housing (20), - second guide elements ( 23, 24, 33, 34) spaced from the first guide elements (22, 32); characterized in that the second guide elements (23, 24, 33, 34) are positioned relative to the first guide elements (22, 32) at a lower distance from the bottom wall (21).

Description

DESCRIPTION

One push button actuated switch with anti-jam guidance system

Field of the Invention

The present description refers to the technical field of electrical installations and, more particularly, refers to a push-button operated switch with an anti-jam guidance system.

State of the art

European patent EP1584096 discloses a push button actuated switch comprising a support structure made of insulating material, or housing, which is shaped like a box and which defines a recessed compartment to house and support the electromechanical components that are part of the switch. The housing has an open side. The switch also includes a push button slidably coupled to the housing by means of guide elements to close the open side. The mechanical coupling between the push button and the housing allows a relative and guided sliding of the push button with respect to the housing along a sliding axis. Such sliding is necessary to command by means of the push button an electrical commutation of the switch. A push of the push button determines a push button advance relative to the housing. A release of the push button determines a movement of the push button away from the housing. Therefore, the push button moves between a forward position and a back position, which represents two push button limit switch positions. In a push button actuated switch, it is very important to avoid a loss of the sliding coupling between the push button and the housing, as this can lead to relative temporary or permanent lockout of the switch. In practice, this blocking is due to the jam of the push button against the walls of the housing.

European patent EP1866944, European patent EP2297759 and European patent application EP2553700 disclose possible solutions to the jam problem. German patent application DE 19757928 A1 discloses a push button according to the preamble of claim 1.

The aforementioned prior art solutions, while significant and pervasive, have led to a marked increase in the axial load of the push button actuated switch and to an increasing number of switch components.

With respect to the prior art solutions, the need is felt to implement a push button actuated switch that is more compact, simpler to assemble, and possibly has a small number of components and is neither affected nor affected. less possible, due to the jam problem.

The purpose of the present description is to make available a push button actuated switch which is capable of satisfying the need described above with reference to prior art switches. Said object is achieved by means of a push-button operated switch as defined generally by claim 1. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the above-mentioned push-button operated switch are defined in the appended dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description hereinafter of particular embodiments merely by way of example, but not limited to, with reference to the accompanying drawings briefly described in the following paragraph.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a push button operated switch including a housing, a push button slidably limited to the housing and a key coupled to the push button.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the push button actuated switch of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another perspective view of the switch of figure 1 from which the key has been removed.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the switch housing of Figure 1 from which all components contained within the housing have been removed.

Figure 5 shows a top view of the push button of the switch of figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view from the bottom of the push button of the switch of figure 1.

Figure 7 shows a partial perspective view in cross section of the switch of figure 1, from which the key and some of the components contained within the housing have been removed.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the switch housing of Figure 1, in which some of the components contained within the housing are visible.

Figure 9 shows a partial perspective view in cross section of an enlarged part of the switch of figure 1.

Figure 10 shows another partial perspective view in cross section of an enlarged part of the switch of figure 1.

Figure 11 shows a side view of the switch of figure 1 from which the key has been removed.

Figure 12 shows a partial perspective view in cross section of the switch housing of Figure 1, in which a support bearing point inserted in the housing is visible.

Figure 13 shows a partial side cross-sectional view of the casing and of the support bearing point of Figure 12.

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the support support point of Figures 12 and 13. Figure 15 shows a pressure transmitting member of the push button of the switch of Figure 1. Figure 16 shows another perspective view from above of the push button of the switch of figure 1. Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the support support point, the mobile contact support support and the fixed contact support support.

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 17 showing an elastic element, operatively coupled to the movable contact support bracket.

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 17 showing an oscillating control member as well.

Figure 20 shows another perspective view of the assembly of figure 19.

Figure 21 shows a sectional view of the oscillating control member of Figure 19.

detailed description

With reference to the attached figures, a particular non-limiting embodiment of a push-button operated switch 10 will now be described. By push-button operated switch is meant a switch operated manually through a push button to determine one, or at minus one, electrical switching. Preferably, as in the illustrated example, the push button-operated switch 10 is of the modular type, which is intended to be mounted on a support frame for wall installation together with other modular circuit breakers of the same type or in general other electrical appliances modular, such as plugs. Switch 10 can be manually operated and can be used, for example, to control electrical power and / or lighting in a residential or commercial building.

In the present description, the term switch is understood as both a device for opening and closing a single electrical contact and a device for opening an electrical contact with the contemporary closure of another electrical contact and vice versa (diverter).

The push-button operated switch 10 comprises a support structure 20 made of electrically insulating material, for example plastic, which preferably, but not restrictively, has approximately the parallelepiped shape. The support structure 20, hereinafter referred to as the housing, includes a bottom wall 21 and four side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d attached to the bottom wall 21. The housing 20 includes an open side 21 'opposite the bottom wall 21. Side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and bottom wall 21 define a recessed compartment adapted to house the electromechanical components of switch 10 and at least two electrical connection terminals C1, C2, C3. In the example shown in the figures, the recessed compartment of the housing 20 houses, without any limitation, three electrical connection terminals C1, C2, C3.

Preferably, the bottom wall 21 is integrated into the housing 20, however, in an alternative embodiment, the bottom wall 21 could be a separate part from the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 and coupled to they.

The push button actuated switch 10 comprises a push button 30, which is manually operated to command an electrical commutation of the switch 10, having a body provided with side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d running through the open side 21'of the Housing 20. The push button 10 is adapted to slide relative to the housing 20 along a sliding axis ZZ and along a space delimited between a forward position and a rearward position. For the purposes of the present description, "forward position" is understood to mean an end position in the approaching movement of the push button 30 to the housing 20, while by "back position" is meant an end position of stroke in the distancing motion of the push button 30 from the housing 20. Therefore, it is clear that the terms "forward" and "backward" refer to the position of the push button 30 relative to the housing 20.

The push button operated switch 10 comprises a spatially distributed guide system adapted to guide the sliding of the push button 30 relative to the housing 20 along the sliding axis Z-Z.

The spatially distributed guide system includes first guide elements 22, 32 operatively interposed between the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 and the side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button body 30.

The spatially distributed guide system also includes second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 spaced from the first guide elements 22, 32 and positioned with respect to the first guide elements 22, 32 at a lower distance from the lower wall 21 of the housing 20. More precisely, the cooperating friction surfaces of the first guide elements 22, 32 have a distance from the lower wall 21 of the housing 20 greater than the distance from the wall lower 21 of the housing 20 of cooperating friction surfaces of the second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34. According to an advantageous embodiment, the first guide elements 22, 32 include a first plurality of tabs 22 protruding from side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of housing 20 towards side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of push button 30 and a second plurality of tabs 32 protruding to the side walls of the push button 30 towards the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 and each being adapted to contact a respective appendix 22 of the first plurality of appendices 22 to slide thereon when the push button 30 slides relative to the housing 20.

In the exemplary non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, four tabs 22 protruding from the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 are provided, and four corresponding tabs 32 protruding from the side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of push button 30.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the first plurality of tabs 22 and the second plurality of tabs 32 allow the side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30 to be separated from the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 when the push button 30 slides relative to the housing 20. Thus, in fact, the push button operated switch 10 is less vulnerable to intrusion of dust or sand into the side walls. 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 and of the side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30 which would otherwise cause a jam within a switch in which, on the contrary, due to a wide Overlap between the side walls of the push button 30 and the side walls of the housing 20, there are wider friction surfaces.

According to a preferred embodiment, the protruding tabs 22, 32 mentioned above are linear tabs, which, in the example shown, extend linearly along the axes that are parallel to each other and parallel to the sliding axis Z-Z .

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the side walls of the push button 30 are parallel in pairs and define edges 32 ', each defined by a pair of adjacent side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the button 30 Each appendix 32 of the second plurality of appendices is disposed on a corresponding edge 32 '. Preferably edges 32 'are chamfered.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 are staggered with respect to the first guide elements 22, 32. In other words, the second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 are closer to some of the first guide elements 22, 32 and further away from other first guide elements 22, 32.

Preferably, with reference to Figures 4, 6, and 7, the second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 include a guide seat 23 and a guide pin 33 having an end portion 34 slidable on the guide seat 23. In the non-limiting exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the guide pin 33 extends from the body of the push button 30 towards the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 while the guide seat 23 is fixed to the wall lower 21 of the housing 20. Preferably, the guide pin 33 is integrated into the push button 30 and protrudes from the body of the push button 30 towards the lower wall 21 of the housing 20. Preferably, the body of the push button 30 and the pin guide 33 form a single piece.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the aforementioned end portion 34 of guide pin 33 has a cross-shaped cross section. By cross-shaped cross section, is meant a section in a plane that is perpendicular to the sliding axis Z-Z. In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the aforementioned cross-shaped cross section includes a circular central part from which originate four arms that form a Greek cross.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the guide pin 33 does not interfere with the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 during the sliding movements of the push button 30 with respect to the housing 20. In other words, the guide pin 33 is separated from the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 to avoid having friction surfaces between the side walls of the housing 20 and the guide pin 33.

With reference to Figures 4 and 7, according to an embodiment, the guide seat 23 includes four parallel side walls 24 in pairs. Preferably, the side walls 24 of the guide seat 23 are spaced from each other and joined to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. In an alternative embodiment, the guide seat 33 may be a continuous collar, having a square section or circular. In the particular example shown, the side walls 24 are integrated into the lower walls 21 of the housing 20, protruding from it towards the push button 30.

Referring to Fig. 8, according to one embodiment, push button actuated switch 10 includes at least one resilient member 40 adapted to exert a pushing force on push button 30 to bring back or hold the push button 30 in the back position in the absence of external forces. In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 8, the switch 10 includes two elastic elements 40 that are in the form of two coil springs 40. In particular, in the example shown, the switch 10 also includes a diaphragm 41 housed within the Housing 20 and spring elements 40 are operatively inserted between diaphragm 41 and push button body 30, each having, for example, an end portion inserted into a corresponding recessed seat 39 provided in push button body 30 (FIG. 6). Also in the diaphragm 41 can be provided recessed seats that have the same function.

Referring to Figures 8-10, to stop the push button 30 in the back position, the push button actuated switch 10 includes a first stop system that includes the contact surfaces 251, 351 of the side walls of the housing 20 and the side walls of the push button 30 respectively, abutting each other when the push button 30 is in the back position. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first stop system includes alignment elements 250, 350 which engage with each other starting from a given point during the sliding movement of the push button 30 from the forward position to the rearward position before Reach back position. Said alignment elements 250, 350 allow the push button 30 to be progressively aligned with respect to a reference plane R_P (figure 11) which is perpendicular to the sliding axis Z-Z.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the aforementioned alignment elements 250, 350 include at least one guide in variable cross-section 250, and a corresponding slider in variable cross-section 350 adapted to be inserted into the guide of variable cross-section 250 , starting from a certain point during the movement of the push button 30 before reaching the position backwards and upwards until reaching it. Preferably, the variable cross section guide 250 is a conical guide, which has a decreasing cross section in the direction toward the reference plane R_P. In this case, for example, the variable cross-section slider 350 is wedge-shaped.

According to an advantageous embodiment, in order to further increase the precision of the alignment of the push button 30 with respect to the reference plane R_P and to guarantee a better coupling between the push button 30 and the housing 20, the contact surfaces 251 , 351 are surfaces which, in the rearward position of the push button 30, lie on an I_P plane inclined with respect to the reference plane R_P.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, the switch 10 includes complementary snap-fit coupling elements 25, 35 provided on the side walls of the housing 20 and on the side walls of the body of the push button 30. The coupling elements Push-fit 25 mentioned above are shaped to facilitate a forced insertion of the push button body 30 through the open side 21 'of the housing 20 in the assembly phase of assembly push button housing and, once they pass an adjustment position, to make an interlocking engagement between the push button 30 and the housing 20, on the basis of which the push button 30 is slidably limited to the housing 20.

In the particular example depicted in the figures, without limitation, the snap-fit coupling elements 25, 35 include four snap-fit coupling teeth 25 on the side walls of the housing 20 and four complementary snap-fit coupling teeth pressure 35 disposed on the side walls of the body of the push button 30. Preferably, the snap-fit coupling teeth 25, 35 are arranged at the corners of a rectangle or square which lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the sliding axis ZZ .

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the pressure-fit coupling elements 25, 35 described above bear the alignment elements 250, 350 described above and preferably the contact surfaces 251, 351 also described above.

According to a preferred embodiment, to stop the push button 30 in the forward position, the push button operated switch 10 includes a second stop system that includes contact elements 26, 36 provided respectively on the side walls of the casing 20 and on the side walls of the body of the push button 30. In the particular example shown, the contact elements 26, 36 mentioned above include two small blocks 36 protruding from the opposite walls 30b, 30d of the body of the push button 30 and stop seats 26 provided on two opposite side walls 20b, 20d of the housing 20.

In accordance with one embodiment, the push-button operated switch 10 includes a support bearing point 50 housed within the housing 20. As is known, in a switch, a support bearing point 50 serves as a means of support for an electrically conductive movable switching member, being in particular rotary, bearing at least one electrically movable contact element. The aforementioned electrically conductive movable switching member will be referred to herein as a rotary contact bearing bracket. The support point 50 is made, for example, of folded and perforated sheet metal.

According to an advantageous embodiment, in order to ensure a stable fixing of the support fulcrum 50 to the housing 20, the housing 20 includes a housing seat 27 of the supporting fulcrum 50 and the push-button operated switch 10 includes a snap fit coupling system adapted to fix the support fulcrum 50 to the housing 20 in the housing seat 27. Preferably, the housing seat 27 is arranged within the housing 20 on the bottom wall 21 and the snap-fit coupling system comprises at least one elastic coupling tooth 28 adapted to hook the supporting bearing point 50 to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. Preferably, the aforementioned elastic coupling tooth 28 is integrated in the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 and forms a single part with the latter. In the example shown in the figures, the snap fit coupling system includes a plurality of coupling spring teeth 28, in particular three coupling spring teeth 28.

According to an advantageous embodiment that makes it possible to simplify the manufacture of the housing 20, under ^{the elastic coupling tooth 28, the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 has a through opening} 28 ^'. Thus, having to mold to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 is usefully avoided by undermining opposing surfaces.

According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic coupling tooth 28 has a free end portion and an opposite end limited to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 and the free end portion is so as to engage with a portion peripheral of the support point 50.

According to an advantageous embodiment, at least two snap-fit coupling teeth 28 are provided which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the support fulcrum 50. According to one embodiment, the receiving seat 27 of the support fulcrum 50 is a recessed seat implemented in the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. Preferably, the fulcrum 50 includes a support and contact portion 51 that is shaped to form a slit, for example, which have a V-shaped cross section, housed within the recessed housing seat 27. Preferably, the support fulcrum 50 also includes a connection portion 52, which is part of a connection terminal 50 of the switch 10. The terminal connection C1 includes a screw 54 and a clamping plate 55, and the screw 54 passes through the connection portion 53 of the support fulcrum 50 to engage with the pl clamping 55. According to an advantageous embodiment, between the support and contact portion 51 and the connection portion 53, the support bearing point 50 includes an intermediate portion 52 that forms an inclined connection plane between the support and contact portion 51 and connection portion 53.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, the switch 10 also includes an anchoring system 59, 29 of the support point 50 to the housing 20, in particular to the lower wall 21 of the housing 20. For example, the anchoring system 59, 29 includes a folded small wing 59 integrated in the support fulcrum 50 and an anchor seat 29 (visible in figure 4) arranged within the lower wall 21 of the housing 20 that houses the small wing bent 59. This makes it possible to stabilize the position of the support fulcrum 50 also with respect to the external stresses affecting, for example, the support fulcrum 50 during the wiring operations of the switch 10, for example, caused by the fastening of connection terminal C1.

In addition to the specific example shown in the drawings, more general or more specific embodiments have been described so far, in which the switch 10 is a generic push-button operated switch.

Some embodiments will now be described in which the switch 10 is a push-button operated switch with an oscillating mechanism. An embodiment of a push-button switch with a rocker is described, for example, in European patent EP1866944. In addition to the peculiar embodiment disclosed in said patent, it should be borne in mind that, by means of a push-button operated switch with an oscillating mechanism, a switch operated by a sliding push-button should generally be intended to include an oscillating element that controls the switching, hereinafter referred to as, for ease of explanation, swinging control member.

Referring to Figures 3, 5, 6, according to an advantageous embodiment, push button 30 includes a pressure transmitting member 60 rotatably limited to the body of push button 30. The pressure transmitting member 60 it is adapted to rotate in two opposite directions starting from a rest position (or central position) and the push button 30 includes at least one elastic element 61 adapted to bring the pressure transmission member 60 to the angular rest position after a rotation. Referring to Figures 6 and 15, it should be noted that the pressure transmitting member 60 is adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation A1-A1 (to be called the third axis of rotation).

According to an advantageous embodiment, which allows the user to manually operate the push button 10 perceiving a very limited resistance, the aforementioned elastic element is, or includes, a wire spring 61 and preferably a rectilinear wire spring. The spring 61 mentioned above is, for example, a wire spring made of spring steel. It has been observed that a wire spring 61 with reduced section, for example, with a diameter included between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm and, for example, equal to 0.5 mm, can return the pressure transmission member 60 to the angular rest position and can withstand the stresses generated when push button 30 is operated manually.

Preferably, the aforementioned wire spring 61 has two opposite end portions 62 limited to the push button 30 and a central portion 63 adapted to exert an elastic force on the pressure transmitting member 60. Preferably, referring to Figure 15, the pressure transmitting member 60 includes a central portion 600 and two tabs 601 and 602 originating from central portion 600. Preferably, central portion 600 includes a channel 630, such as a cavity or orifice, traversed by the central portion 63 of wire spring 61.

Referring to Fig. 16, according to an advantageous embodiment, the body of the push button 30 includes a through opening 360, passed through by the pressure transmission member 60, in this way the wire spring 61 is arranged in one side of the passage opening 360 together with at least a part of the central portion 600 of the pressure transmission member 60, while the remaining part of the pressure transmission member 60 is arranged on the other side of said passage opening 360.

Referring to Fig. 15, according to another advantageous embodiment, the pressure transmitting member 60 includes two opposing hinge pins 610 that come from the central portion 600 of the aforementioned member. For example, the two hinge pins 610 are cylindrical pins. Said hinge pins 610 are oriented along the axis of rotation A1-A1 of the pressure transmission member 60. According to an advantageous embodiment, to simplify the assembly of the push button 30, the latter includes two semicircular cavities ( visible in Figure 6), or which are generally in the form of a circle arc, aligned along the axis of rotation of the pressure transmitting member 60, each of which is adapted to partially receive a respective pin of hinge 610. In the present case, the wire spring 61, in addition to serving as an elastic retraction that causes the transmitting member 60 to return to its rest position, also serves as a fastening element of the member 60 to the push button 30.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, referring to Figure 16, the push button 30 includes a fixing seat 361 of the wire spring 61 made in the thickness of the bottom wall 31 of the push button 30 and which, in the mode of embodiment, it is placed on top of the through opening 360 of the push button 30. Preferably, said fixing seat 361 includes two slits 362 aligned with each other along the predominant longitudinal extension direction of the wire spring 61 and are crossed by End portions 62 of wire spring 61. Preferably, end portions 62 of wire spring 61 protrude beyond said grooves 362 from opposite sides with respect to central portion 63 of wire spring 61. Conveniently, clamp seat 361 The wire spring 61 includes stop elements 365 adapted to limit or prevent an undesired translation of the wire spring 31 with respect to the push button 30. In fact, said translation could determine an unwanted detachment of the wire spring 61 from the push button 30 and, therefore, in the embodiment also the detachment of the pressure transmission member 60.

Referring to FIG. 7, the aforementioned pressure transmitting member 60 is so as to contact, from a certain point during sliding of the push button 30 from the backward position to the forward position, an oscillating control member switch 70, for example a bistable member, included in the push-button operated switch 10 in case said switch 10 is a switch with an oscillating operating mechanism. After said contact, the pressure transmitting member 60 begins to rotate with respect to the rest position and, during another advance of the push button 30, it is in such a way that it determines a rotation of the oscillating control member 70 starting from a first position until it reaches a second operating position. At this point, if the pressure of the push button 30 is released, it will be able to return to the rearward position and the pressure transmitting member 60 may return to the rest position as a result of the wire spring 61, while the oscillating member of Control 70 may remain in the second operating position, if it is a stable position, or, in the opposite case, return to the first operating position (for example, as a result of a return force applied by an elastic element). In the event that the oscillating control member 70 returns to the first operating position, another press of the push button 30 will determine a sequence of movements as described above. If, on the contrary, the oscillating control member 70 remains in the second operating position, at the time of another pressing of the push button 30 through a sequence of movements similar to that described above, the first position may return operating and remain there when push button 30 is released and until a further press of push button 30.

Referring to Figures 17-21, the push button actuated switch 10 includes at least one electrical stationary contact element 92, 92 '(hereinafter also referred to as a stationary contact element) and at least one moving element of moving contact 82, 82 '(hereinafter also called moving contact element) and the oscillating control member 70, when moving as a result of the pressure transmitted by the pressure transmitting member 60, determines a rotation of the support rotary contact bearing 81 about an axis of rotation A3-A3 (hereinafter also called the first axis of rotation) which, in turn, rotates the electric movable contact element 82 between a first and a second operating position, being angularly separated from each other. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figures 17-21, switch 10 includes two opposing movable electrical contact elements 82, 82 'and two stationary electrical contact elements 92, 92', which are spaced apart and face each other. In this case, the switch 10 is therefore a two-way diverter, whereby, in one of the aforementioned operating positions, the movable contact element 82 is in contact with a fixed contact element 92 and the movable contact element 82 'is separated from the other fixed contact element 92' while, in the other operating position, the movable contact element 82 is separated from the fixed contact element 92 and the movable contact element 82 'is in contact with the other fixed contact element 92 '. However, it should be noted that the teachings of the present disclosure can easily be applied by a person skilled in the field even to the case of a push button actuated switch 10 having a single electric stationary contact element and a single electric movable contact element . Thus, it is possible to generalize by stating that the electric movable contact element 82, 82 'rotates about an axis of rotation A3-A3 between two angularly spaced operating positions to break or deflect an electrical circuit. Hereinafter, reference will be made, without limitation, to the case in which the switch 10 includes two mobile electrical contact elements 82, 82 'and two fixed electrical contact elements 92, 92'. In such case, the switch 10 includes two fixed contact support brackets 91, 91 'to which the fixed contact elements 92,92' are respectively fixed, for example, welded. The fixed contact support brackets 91, 91 'are made of electrically conductive material, for example copper, and each includes a connecting portion 93, 93'. Each connection portion 93, 93 'is, for example, part of a corresponding electrical connection terminal C2, C3 of the switch 10. Each connection terminal C2, C3 includes a screw 94, 94' and a clamping plate 95, 95 'and each screw 94, 94' passes through the respective connection portion 93, 93 'to engage an associated clamping plate 95, 95'.

The movable electrical contact elements 82, 82 'are, for example, two opposing electrically conductive pads, for example, made of sintered silver, fixed, for example, welded, on the opposite sides of an end portion of a contact element mobile 81, also made of electrically conductive material, for example copper. Therefore, it is clear that, in this embodiment, the mobile electrical contact elements 82, 82 'are electrically connected to each other. The opposite end portion of the movable contact support 81 is located at the support fulcrum point 50 and in particular in the portion and on the support and contact 51 of the movable support point 50. The movable contact support bracket 81 rotates around a first axis of rotation A3-A3, in the example defined by the fulcrum of support 50, to rotate the electric movable contact element 82, 82 'between the first and second operating portions and vice versa. For example, the movable contact support bracket 81 is an L-shaped plate having a larger base 810 which is located at the support support point 50 and a narrower arm 811 of the base 810 protruding from the base 810 and in whose end portion opposite to base 810 the movable electrical contact elements 82, 82 'are fixed.

The oscillating control member 70 includes a body 75, preferably made of electrically insulating material, eg plastic, rotatable with respect to the housing 20 to rotate about an axis of rotation A2-A2 (hereinafter also referred to as second axis of rotation), parallel to a first rotation axis A3-A3, to rotate the rotary contact bearing support 81. Preferably, the second axis of rotation A2-A2 is parallel to both the third axis of rotation A1-A1 and the first axis of rotation A3-A3. Preferably, the body 75 of the oscillating control member 70 is rotatably hinged to the housing 20.

According to an advantageous embodiment, in order to further reduce the axial load of the push-button operated switch 10, the body 75 of the rocker control member 70 is shaped such that the rotary contact bearing support 81 in rotation about The second axis of rotation A3-A3 can traverse the second axis of rotation A2-A2, which is the axis of rotation of the body 75 of the oscillating control member 70.

Preferably, the body 75 of the oscillating control member 70 includes a contact portion 72 having two shaped surfaces 701, 702 intended to contact them and be alternately pushed by the pressure transmitting member 60, and in particular by the two Appendices 601, 602. Preferably, the two shaped surfaces 701, 702 are two stepped surfaces.

According to one embodiment, the body 75 of the oscillating control member 70 includes a bridge portion 71 that avoids an operating space 710 in which the rotary contact bearing bracket 81, or an end portion thereof, such as an end portion of the arm 811, it can rotate freely. For example, the bridge portion 71 includes at least one bent bridge arm 711, 712, 713, preferably two bent bridge arms 711, 713 that originate from two different points on the body 75 and are joined at the same point. In the particular embodiment shown, the bridge portion 71 includes three bent bridge arms 711, 712, 713 that originate at three different points on the body 75 and are joined at the same point to form a cage structure defining the operating area 710 within which the rotary contact support 81, or an end portion thereof, such as an arm end portion 811, can freely rotate. According to a possible embodiment, the bridge portion 71 may include a continuous bridge wall provided with a cavity or a hole within which the rotary contact bearing bracket 81, or an end portion thereof, can rotate freely. According to an advantageous embodiment, as in the example shown in the figures, the bridge portion 71 also avoids a space occupied by the fixed contact support bracket 91, 91 ', by the electric fixed contact element 92, 92 'and by the electric movable contact element 82, 82'. In this way, the bridge portion 71 avoids a spatial region of the switch 10 where bonding and separation occurs between the electrical movable contact element 82, 82 'and the fixed electrical contact element 92, 92'.

In accordance with one embodiment, the switching control member 70 includes two opposing coupling elements that allow rotary coupling of the control member 70 with two opposite side walls of the housing 20. In the particular example shown in the figures, the aforementioned coupling elements include two opposing cylindrical pins 76 projecting from the body 75 along the axis of rotation A2-A2 in opposite directions. According to an advantageous embodiment, one of the pins 76 mentioned above protrudes from the contact portion 72 and the other of said pins protrudes from the bridge portion 71. For example, said pins 76 are inserted into the holes or cavities corresponding through passage 276 defined in two opposite side walls of the housing 20.

According to one embodiment, the body 75 of the oscillating control member 70 includes a portion 73 containing an internally hollow seat adapted to receive an elastic element, for example, a coil spring 77, operatively inserted between the oscillating control member 70 and the movable contact support bracket 81. For example, the movable contact support bracket 81, and in particular its base 810, includes a protruding tab 87 inserted into the coil spring 77.

In accordance with other embodiments, other accessory elements may be provided in the body of the swing control member 70, such as a wall 79 with a cavity (not visible in the drawings because it points to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 ) adapted to receive one end of an elastic element (such as a coil spring) adapted to make the oscillating control member 70 a monostable member.

As clearly shown in the foregoing description, the proposed push-button switch 10 allows the planned ranges to be fully achieved in terms of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art. In fact, experimental evidence has shown that, thanks to the provision of a spatially distributed guide system that includes the first guide elements 22, 32 operatively interposed between the side walls of the push button 30 and the side walls of the housing 20 and the second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 24 separated from the first guide elements 22, 32 and arranged with respect to the first guide elements 22, 32 at a lower distance from the lower wall 21, it is possible to significantly reduce the friction surfaces between the push button 30 and the housing 20, limit the vulnerability of the switch 10 with respect to the insertion of dust or sand and keep the axial obstacle of the switch contained.

Subject to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the details of implementation will vary widely with respect to what has been said and shown for exemplary purposes but are not limited thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. A push button actuated switch (10) including: - a casing (20) made of electrically insulating material, having a bottom wall (21), side walls (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) that are attached to the bottom wall (21) and an open side (21 ') opposite the bottom wall (21), - a push button (30) that can be operated to command an electrical commutation of the switch (10) and that has a body provided with side walls (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) that cross said open side (21 '), the push button (10) being adapted to slide with respect to the housing (20) along a sliding axis (ZZ), between a forward position and a rearward position, - a system of spatially distributed guides adapted to guide the sliding of the push button (30) with respect to the casing (20) along said sliding axis (Z-Z); in which the spatially distributed guide system comprises: - first guide elements (22, 32) operatively interposed between the side walls of the push button (30) and the side walls of the casing (20), - second guide elements (23, 24, 33, 34) separated with respect to the first guide elements (22, 32); characterized in that the second guide elements (23, 24, 33, 34) are positioned with respect to the first guide elements (22, 32) at a lower distance from the lower wall (21). 2. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first guide elements (22, 32) comprise a first plurality of tabs (22) protruding from the side walls of the housing ( 20) toward the side walls of the push button (30) and a second plurality of tabs (32) protruding from the side walls of the push button (30) towards the side walls of the housing (20) and each being adapted to enter in contact with a respective appendix of the first plurality to slide on it when the push button (30) slides with respect to the casing (20). The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 2, wherein said first plurality of tabs and said second plurality of tabs allow the side walls of the push button (30) to be spaced from the side walls of the housing (20) when the push button (30) slides relative to the housing (20). The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 3, wherein said tabs are linear tabs. The push button actuated switch (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the side walls of the push button body (30) are parallel in pairs and define edges (32 '), each one being defined by a pair of adjacent side walls, and in which each appendix (32) of the second plurality of appendices is arranged in a respective edge (32 '). 6. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 5, wherein said edges (32 ') are beveled. The push button actuated switch (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide elements (23, 24, 33, 34) are offset from the first guide elements (22, 32). The push button actuated switch (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide elements (23, 24, 33, 34) comprise a guide seat (23) and a pin of guide (33) having a sliding end portion (34) in the guide seat (23). 9. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 8, wherein the guide pin (33) extends from the body of the push button (30) towards the bottom wall (21) and wherein the guide seat (23) is fixed to the bottom wall (21). The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said end portion (34) of the guide pin (33) has a cross-shaped cross section. The push button operated switch (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the guide pin (33) does not interfere with the side walls of the housing (20) during the sliding movements of the button push button (30) with respect to the housing (20). 12. The push button actuated switch (10) according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the guide pin (33) is integrated into the body of the push button (30). The push button actuated switch (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the guide seat (23) includes four side walls (24) that are parallel in pairs. 14. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 13, wherein the side walls of the guide seat (23) are spaced from each other. 15. The push button operated switch (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said switch is a push button operated switch including an oscillating control member (70). 16. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 15, including a pressure transmitting element (60) rotatably limited to the push button (30) and wherein the control member (70) it is rotatably limited to two opposite side walls of the housing (20).