ES2758499T3 - Push button actuated switch with button alignment system - Google Patents

Abstract

A push button actuated 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) 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; - at least one elastic element (40) adapted to exert a pushing force on the push button (30) to bring back or keep the button (30) in the back position; - complementary snap fit 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 push button operated 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; characterized in that: the first stop system includes a push button alignment system that includes alignment elements (250, 350) that engage with each other starting from a given point during the sliding movement of the push button (30) from the forward position towards backward position; said snap fit elements (25, 35) carry the alignment elements (250, 350) described above.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Push button actuated switch with button alignment 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 a push button alignment system.

State of the art

European patent EP1584096 discloses a push button actuated switch that includes a support structure made of insulating material, or casing, which is shaped like a box and defines an internal 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. Said sliding is necessary to order, 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 represent two push button limit switch positions.

European patent EP1866944, European patent EP2297759 and European patent application EP2553700 disclose other embodiments of push button switches. JP H11 339592 A discloses another example of a prior art push button switch according to the preamble of claim 1.

The prior art push button switches can be affected by a drawback due to the fact that, after pressing the push button, it does not always return to an aligned position with respect to a reference plane that is perpendicular to the sliding axis. Such misalignment is often visually perceived, for example compromising the aesthetics and visual elegance of a wall light spot. In case the switch is modular and placed next to other switches of the same type, the misalignment between the various buttons can increase the effect of the aesthetic deterioration of the electrical installation. In addition, pressing a push button from a starting position that is not aligned with respect to a reference plane can cause other problems, such as increased wear of the friction surfaces, or jamming of the push button in the most severe cases. , or a feeling of lack of fluidity may be felt when operating the switch. Therefore, there is recognized the need to implement a push button actuated switch that can resolve or minimize the aforementioned drawbacks caused by misalignment of the push button.

The purpose of the present description is to make available a push button actuated switch that can satisfy the need described above with reference to the switches of the prior art.

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 attached 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 below 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 push-button pressure transmitter member 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 in which an elastic element is also shown, operatively coupled to the movable contact support bracket.

Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 17 showing an oscillating control member also.

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 which can be manually operated via a push button to determine a , or at least one, electrical switching. Preferably, as in the illustrated example, the push button actuated switch 10 is of the modular type, which is intended to be mounted on a support frame for wall installation together with other modular switches 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, by the term switch is meant 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 actuated switch 10 includes a support structure 20 made of electrically insulating material, for example plastic, which preferably, but not restrictively, has approximately the parallelepiped shape. Support structure 20, hereinafter referred to as housing 20, includes a bottom wall 21 and four side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d attached to bottom wall 21. Housing 20 includes an open side 21 'opposite to bottom wall 21. Side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and bottom wall 21 define an internal 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 internal compartment of the housing 20 houses, without any limitation, three electrical connection terminals C1, C2, Preferably, the bottom wall 21 is integrated into the casing 20, however, in an alternative embodiment, the bottom wall 21 may be a separate part from the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the casing 20 and coupled to they.

The push button actuated switch 10 includes a push button 30, which is manually actuated to command an electrical commutation of the switch 10, which has a body provided with side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d running through the open side 21 'of the Housing 20. Push button 10 is adapted to slide relative to housing 20 along a sliding axis ZZ and along a limited stroke between a forward position and a reverse position. For the purposes of the present description, "forward position" is understood to mean an end position in the approach movement of the push button 30 to the housing 20, while "back position" is understood to mean an end position of stroke in the distancing motion of the push button 30 from the housing 20. Therefore, it is evident 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 includes a guide system adapted to guide the sliding of the push button 30 with respect to the housing 20 along the sliding axis Z-Z.

Preferably, the guide system is a spatially distributed guide system that 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.

Preferably, 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 distance less than 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.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the first guide elements 22, 32 include a first plurality of tabs 22 projecting from the side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the housing 20 towards the side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30 and a second plurality of tabs 32 projecting from 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 tab 22 of the first plurality of tabs 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 as well as 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 housing 20 when push button 30 slides relative to housing 20. Thus, in fact, push button actuated switch 10 is less vulnerable to intrusion of dust or sand into 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, due to wide overlap between the walls sides of the push button 30 and those of the housing 20, there are wider friction surfaces.

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

According to a preferred embodiment, the side walls of the button 30 are parallel in pairs and define edges 32 ', each being defined by a pair of adjacent side walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30 Each tab 32 of the second plurality of tabs is disposed at 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 more near 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 members 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 Exemplary non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, guide pin 33 extends from body of push button 30 toward bottom wall 21 of housing 20 while guide seat 23 is affixed to bottom wall 21 of 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 bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. Preferably, the body of the push button 30 and the guide pin 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 in which four arms originate 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 spaced 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 itself. Referring to Figures 4 and 7, according to one embodiment, the guide seat 23 includes four parallel side walls 24 in pairs. Preferably, the side walls 24 of the guide seat 23 are separated 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 or circular section . 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 Figure 8, the push button actuated switch 10 includes at least one resilient member 40 adapted to exert a pushing force on the push button 30 to bring back or hold the push button 30 in the failing back position. from 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 it is possible to provide 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 a push button 30 button alignment system that includes alignment elements 250, 350 which engage with each other starting from a given point during the sliding movement of the button push button 30 from the forward position to the back position, before reaching the 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.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the aforementioned alignment elements 250, 350 include at least one variable cross-section guide 250, and a corresponding variable cross-section slider 350 adapted to be inserted into the variable cross-section guide 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 towards the reference plane (R_P). In this case, for example, the variable cross-section slider 350 is wedge-shaped.

According to an advantageous embodiment, to further increase the precision of the alignment of the push button 30 with respect to the reference plane R_P and to ensure 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 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 snap fit elements 25 mentioned above are shaped to facilitate a forced insertion of the push button body 30 through the open side 21 'of the casing 20 in the assembly phase of the push button casing assembly and, once they pass an adjustment position, make an interlocking snap fit coupling 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, said snap fit elements 25, 35 include four snap fit teeth 25 on the side walls of the housing 20 and four complementary snap fit teeth 35 arranged on the walls sides of the push button body 30. Preferably, the snap-fit teeth 25, 35 are disposed at the corners of a rectangle or square that lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the sliding axis ZZ.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the press fit elements 25, 35 described above bear the aligning elements 250, 350 described above and preferably the contact surfaces 251, 351 described above as well.

According to a preferred embodiment, to stop the push button 20 in the forward position, the push button actuated 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 of the 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 supporting means for a moveable electrically conductive switching member, being in particular rotary, carrying at least one moving contact electrical element. The aforementioned mobile electrically conductive switching member will be referred to herein as a rotary contact bearing bracket. The support point 50 is made, for example, of a folded and perforated metal sheet.

According to an advantageous embodiment, to ensure a stable fixation 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 includes at least one elastic coupling tooth 28 adapted to hook the support bearing point 50 to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. The aforementioned elastic coupling tooth 28 is preferably 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 casing 20, under the elastic coupling tooth 28, the lower wall 21 of the casing 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 part and an opposite end limited to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 and the free end part is so as to engage with a portion peripheral of the support point 50.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the snap fit coupling system includes at least two snap fit coupling teeth 28 arranged on opposite sides with respect to the support fulcrum 50.

According to an embodiment, the seat of accommodation 27 of the support fulcrum 50 is a recessed seat implemented in the lower wall 21 of the housing 20. Preferably, the fulcrum 50 includes a support and contact portion 51 which is shaped to form a slit, for example, having a V-shaped cross section, housed within the seating seat 27. Preferably, the supporting bearing point 50 also includes a connecting portion 53, which is part of a connection terminal C1 of the switch 10. The connection terminal C1 includes a screw 54 and a clamping plate 55, and the screw 54 passes through the connection portion 53 of the support point 50 to engage the clamping plate 55 According to an advantageous embodiment, between the support and contact portion 51 and the connection portion 53, the support support point 50 includes an intermediate portion 52 that forms a connection plane. n inclined between the support and contact portion 51 and the 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 point 50 and an anchoring seat 29 (visible in figure 4) arranged inside 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 external stresses that affect, for example, the support fulcrum 50 during wiring operations of switch 10, for example, caused by clamping 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. Hereinafter, some embodiments will 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 an oscillating mechanism is disclosed, for example, in European patent EP1866944. In addition to the peculiar embodiment described 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, the push button 30 includes a pressure transmitting member 60 rotatably limited to the body of the push button 30. The pressure transmitting member 60 is adapted to rotate in two opposite directions starting from a rest position (or center position) and the push button 30 includes at least one elastic element 61 adapted to bring the pressure transmitting member 60 back to the angular rest position after a rotation of it. 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 transmitting member 60 to the angular rest position and can resist the stresses generated when the push button 30 is operated manually.

Preferably, the aforementioned wire spring 61 has two opposite end parts 62 limited to push button 30 and a central portion 63 adapted to exert an elastic force on 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 Figure 16, according to an advantageous embodiment, the body of the push button 30 includes a through opening 360, passed through by the pressure transmitting member 60, thus, 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 transmitting member 60, while the remaining part of the pressure transmitting member 60 is arranged on the other side of said passage opening 360.

Referring to FIG. 15, in accordance with another advantageous embodiment, the pressure transmitting member 60 includes two opposing hinge pins 610 originating 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 transmitting member 60. According to an advantageous embodiment, to simplify the push button 30 assembly, the latter includes two semicircular cavities (visible in Figure 6), or which are generally in the form of an arc of the circumference, aligned along the axis of rotation of the pressure transmitting member 60, each of which is adapted to partially receive a respective hinge pin 610. In this case, the wire spring 61, in addition to serving as an elastic reversal that causes the pressure transmitting member 60 to return to its rest position, also favorably serves as a fastening element of the member 60 to the push button 30. according to 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 lower wall 31 of the push button 30 and which, in the embodiment, is placed on top of the passage 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 wire spring 61 and are traversed 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 to the central portion 63 of the wire spring 61. Conveniently, the fixing seat 361 of the wire spring 61 includes stop elements 365 adapted to limit or prevent unwanted translation of the wire spring 31 with respect to the push button 30. in fact, said translation could determine an undesired separation of the wire spring 61 from the push button 30 and, therefore, in the embodiment also from the member pressure transmitter bro 60.

Referring to FIG. 7, the aforementioned pressure transmitting member 60 is so as to enter In contact, from a certain point during the sliding of the push button 30 from the back position to the forward position, an oscillating switching control member 70, for example a bistable member, included in the push button operated switch 10 in case said switch 10 is a push button switch with an oscillating operating mechanism. After such contact, the pressure transmitting member 60 begins to rotate with respect to the rest position and, upon further advance of the push button 30, determines a rotation of the oscillating control member 70 starting from a first operating position until which 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 back position and the pressure transmitting member 60 may return to the rest position as a result of the wire spring 61, while the oscillating control member 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 one may return operating position and remain there when push button 30 is released and until further press on 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 movable moving element. 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 referred to as 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 fixed 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 be easily applied by a person skilled in the field even to the housing of a push button actuated switch 10 having a single fixed electrical contact element and a single movable contact element electric. 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, 2' 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 clamp plate 95, 95 'and each screw 94, 94' is so as to traverse 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 opposite electrically conductive pads, for example, made of sintered silver, attached, for example, welded, on the opposite sides of an end part of a movable contact element 81, also made of electrically conductive material, for example copper. Therefore, it is evident that, in this embodiment, the mobile electrical contact elements 82, 82 'are electrically connected to each other. The opposite end part of the movable contact support 81 is located at the support fulcrum point 50 and in particular in the support and contact portion 51 of the movable support point 50. The movable contact support bracket 81 rotates about of a first axis of rotation A3-A3, in the example defined by the support point 50, to rotate the electric mobile contact element 82, 82 'between the first and the second operating portion 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 than the base 810 protruding from the base 810 and in whose end part opposite to base 810 the mobile 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 (herein also referred to as the second axis ), parallel to a first axis of rotation 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 body 75 of the swing 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 support bracket 81 on 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 provided to alternately contact and push by the pressure transmitting member 60, and in particular by the two tabs 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 support bracket 81, or an end portion thereof, such as an end part 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 coplanar bent bridge arms 711, 713 that originate at 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 from three different points on the body 75 and are joined at the same point to form a carcass structure defining the operating area 710 within which the rotary contact support 81, or an end part thereof, such as an arm end part 811, can freely rotate. In accordance with a possible embodiment, the bridge portion 71 may include a continuous bridge wall provided with a cavity or a recess 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 passageways 276 defined on two opposite side walls of the housing 20.

In accordance with 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 towards 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 above description, the proposed push button operated switch 10 allows the planned ranges to be fully achieved in terms of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art. As clearly shown in the above description, the proposed push button actuated switch 10 allows the planned ranges to be fully achieved in terms of overcoming the drawbacks of prior art switches. In fact, by virtue of the fact that the first stop system includes a button alignment system 30 that includes alignment elements 250, 350 that engage each other starting from a given point during the sliding movement of the push button 30 from the forward position to the rearward position, it is possible to ensure correct alignment of the push button 30 in the rearward position with respect to the reference plane R_P. It should be noted that the aforementioned alignment system does not involve the use of extended guide surfaces between the housing 20 and the push button 30 during the travel of the push button with respect to the housing, as it is sufficient for the alignment system operate from a certain point in the push button travel to the back position, even a short distance (for example a few mm, for example 1 or 2 mm) from the back position and just before it reaches the backward position starting from forward position.

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

Claims (13)

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; - at least one elastic element (40) adapted to exert a pushing force on the push button (30) to bring back or keep the button (30) in the back position; - complementary snap fit 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 push button operated 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; characterized in that: The first stop system includes a push button alignment system that includes alignment elements (250, 350) that engage with each other starting from a given point during the sliding movement of the push button (30) from the forward position. towards the back position; said snap fit elements (25, 35) carry the alignment elements (250, 350) described above. 2. The push button operated switch (10) according to claim 1, wherein the alignment elements (250, 350) allow the push button (30) to be progressively aligned with respect to a perpendicular reference plane (R_P) to the sliding axis (ZZ). 3. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the alignment elements (250, 350) include at least one variable cross section guide (250) and one cross section slider corresponding variable (350) adapted to be inserted into the variable cross section guide (250). The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 3, wherein the variable cross section guide (250) is a conical guide, having a decreasing cross section in the direction towards the reference plane ( R_P). The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 4, wherein the variable cross section slider (350) is wedge shaped. The push button actuated switch (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact surfaces (251, 351) are surfaces lying on an inclined plane (I_P) with respect to the reference plane ( R_P) when the push button (30) is in the back position. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 1, wherein the snap fit elements (25, 35) are shaped to facilitate forced insertion of the push button body (30) through the open side (21 ') and, once they have passed an adjusting position, to make an interlocking snap fit coupling between the push button (30) and the housing (20), based on which the push button is limited (30) slidingly to the box (20). The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 1, wherein the snap fit elements (25, 35) bear said contact surfaces (251, 351). The push button operated switch (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, to stop the push button (20) 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 housing (20) and on the side walls of the body of the push button (30). 10. The push-button operated switch (10) according to any one of the claims which includes 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 (ZZ), in which the spatially distributed guide system includes : - 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) and placed with respect to the first guide elements (22, 32) at a lower distance from the lower wall (21 ). 11. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 10, wherein the first guide elements include a first plurality of tabs projecting from the side walls of the housing (20) towards the side walls of the push button (30) and a second plurality of tabs protruding from the side walls of the push button (30) towards the side walls of the housing (20) and each being adapted to come into contact with a respective tab of the first plurality with the in order to slide on it when the push button (30) slides with respect to the casing (20). 12. The push button actuated switch (10) according to claim 11, wherein the first plurality of tabs and the second plurality of tabs allow the side walls of the push button (30) to be separated from the side walls of the housing (20) when the push button slides relative to the housing. 13. The push button operated switch (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said switch (10) is a push button operated switch including an oscillating control member (70).