FR2841037A1 - Push button switch normally closed having contact carriers isolating material held and conductor strip forming contact/button activated with carriers released when button pushed. - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical switch (10) has a lower section (12) with contact carriers (30A,30B) in an isolating material. There is a drive unit (20,54,60) and an intermediate conductor strip (14). The electrical connection is made when the switch is in its stable rest position. Pushing the switch breaks the contact carrier connection.

Description

adding an additional winding to said core (16).

  -: 1 * "Normally closed type miniature electric switch with tactile effect"

  The present invention relates to an electrical switch.

  The invention relates more particularly to an electrical switch, in particular of the tactile effect type, comprising a lower support contact carrier made of insulating material which delimits a housing in which the wind has at least two fixed electrical contacts and an actuating member which acts in a direction vertical substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the

o accommodation.

  Such a switch also includes a generally domed triggering member which is elastically deformable, from a stable state of rest, under the action of the actuating member which is for example a pusher and which acts on the central part. of the triggering member in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the housing, in order to establish an electrical connection between the two

fixed contacts.

  According to another known arrangement, the switch o electric also comprises an intermediate contact blade made of conductive material which is interposed vertically between the actuating member and the bottom of the housing and which is elastically deformable under the vertical action from top to teas of the actuator and from a stable state of rest, s in which the contact blade extends substantially in a horizontal plane, in order to modify the electrical connection between them

fixed contacts.

  The sudden change of state of the triggering member gives its user, who acts directly or indirectly on the actuating pusher, a tactile sensation of the change of state of the triggering member, and

  done from the switch state change.

  According to a known design, the triggering member is for example produced in the form of a convex disc or of an element with a rectangular outline of generally pyramidal shape. Examples of such designs are described and represented in documents FR-A-2,734,398, FR-A-2,735,276

s and F R-A-2.77 1.846.

  The object of the present invention is to propose an electrical switch of the type mentioned above which is of the normally closed (NF) type, that is to say the actuation or tripping of which causes an opening of the electrical link. For this purpose, the invention proposes an electrical switch of the type comprising: - a lower contact carrier support made of insulating material which delimits a housing in which the wind has at least two fixed electrical contacts; - an actuator which acts in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the housing; - An intermediate contact blade made of conductive material which is vertically interposed between the actuating member and the bottom of the housing and which is elastically deformable under the vertical action from top to bottom of the actuating member and from a stable state of rest, in which the contact blade extends substantially in a horizontal plane, with a view to modifying the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts, characterized in that the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts is established when the contact blade is in its stable state of rest in which a contact cone of the contact blade is in contact with an associated fixed contact, and in that the elastic deformation of the contact blade causes a displacement of the section, contact con away from said fixed contact associated to interrupt the electrical connection between the two

fixed contacts.

  Ji ti Thus, thanks to the teachings of the invention, it is possible to produce an electrical switch, in particular of the tactile effect type, the dimensions of which are particularly reduced as is the case for switches of the state of the art normally open type (NO). According to other characteristics of the invention: - the two fixed contacts are vertically offset relative to each other, and said associated fixed contact is the upper contact; o - the two fixed wind contacts aligned horizontally and the elastically deformable blade comprises two sections, opposite contact cons each of which is in contact respectively with a fixed contact associated when the contact blade is in wind in a stable state of rest, the elastic deformation of the contact blade s causing a simultaneous displacement of each of the two contact sections away from the fixed contact which is associated with it; - In vertical section, the contact section is a longitudinal arm of generally horizontal orientation of which at least one free end edge is supported on the associated fixed contact when the intermediate blade is in its stable state of rest; - The two contact arms wind two opposite arms, aligned longitudinally and connected together by a central portion of the contact blade on which the actuator acts; s - the fixed contact associated delimits an upper contact surface which is coplanar with an adjacent surface portion of the bottom of the housing which delimits a horizontal transverse edge on which the arm is supported to tilt when it moves away from the associated fixed contact; n / a - the switch comprises a triggering member of generally domed upward shape which, under the action of the lower free end of the actuating member and from a high stable position of rest, is elastically deformable , in the vertical direction, towards a low jj actuation position in which the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts is interrupted; The triggering member is vertically interposed between the lower end of the actuating member and the intermediate contact blade; - According to another version, the triggering member is made in one piece with the intermediate contact blade; - The triggering member comprises a lower support base and an upper section on which acts the actuating member; - the base is a polyhedron trunk, in particular a trunk

  of regular pyramid with rectangular base.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description which follows

  for the understanding of which, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view which illustrates the main components of a first embodiment of an electric switch according to the invention in which the triggering member and the intermediate wind contact blade produced in the form of two separate components; - Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale, in longitudinal section through a vertical median plane of the switch shown in Figure 1 and in which ['all the wind components represented together with the switch at rest; - Figure 3 is a top view of the lower contact carrier and the contact blade; - Figure 4 is a schematic view in longitudinal section illustrating the behavior of the intermediate contact blade after the actuation of the switch to interrupt the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts; - Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate a second embodiment of the invention 1 (! in which the intermediate contact blade and the wind release device produced in the form of a component

unique in conductive material.

  In the description which follows, given without limitation,

  identical, analogous or similar components will

  designated by the same reference figures.

  We will adopt, without limitation, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the orientation of the tryre L, V, T indicated in the figures, as well as the left and right orientations.

o with reference to the figures.

  There is shown in Figures 1 and 3, an electrical switch 10 with a tactile effect which here comprises, from above, a lower support 12 fixed contact carrier made by molding in insulating material, an intermediate contact blade 14 in conductive material, an organ release 16 of general shape in the form of a regular rectangular pyramid upwardly curved, a release member 18 with vertical action, and an upper cage 20 for closing the switch which in particular keeps all of the components in position

  o assembled as illustrated in Figure 2.

  The housing 12, of known general design, is generally rectangular parallelepipedic shape and it is open in its face

  upper 22 by delimiting an interior housing 24.

  The housing 24 has a lower horizontal bottom floor on two levels, that is to say that it has a first lower central portion 26, horizontal and of rectangular outline, and a second portion of upper level shifted upwards. consists of two portions 28A and 28B of rectangular outline arranged symmetrically on either side of the central portion

n / a 26 and which are coplanar.

  With the exception of the fixed contacts, which will be described later, the lower support 12 (like the triggering member 16, the actuating member 18 and the cage 20) has a -} 1 (, general symmetry of design in relation to vertical planes

  longitudinal and transverse medians not shown in the figures.

  In the first embodiment, the two fixed contacts comprise a first central and lower fixed contact 30 arranged in the portion 26 of the bottom of the housing 24 which is a cut element comprising an electrical connection paste 32A which protrudes longitudinally outside of

  insulating body of lower case 12.

  The second fixed contact 30B is arranged, on the right when considering Figures 1 to 3, in the upper bottom portion 28B so that its upper free contact face 34B is flush and coplanar with the adjacent portion 28B of the bottom of the housing. The fixed contact 30B also comprises a lateral connection paste 32B which projects longitudinally to the right from the body of insulating material from the lower support 12 which is molded around the fixed contacts according to a known technique. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 to 4, where each upper portion 28A, 28B of the bottom of the housing 24 is delimited longitudinally inwards by a stop

  horizontal and transverse 36A, 36B.

  In the first embodiment according to the invention, the intermediate contact blade 14, in the general shape of a hollow rectangular plate, is of a design such that it is always in electrical contact with the central fixed contact 30, whatever

switch status 10.

  The intermediate blade 14 is essentially constituted by two transverse and opposite arms 38A and 38B of movable contact o which are in the form of two flat rectangular strips which extend parallel to each other in the transverse direction and which wind interconnected by two parallel and opposite branches 40, in the form of strips of longitudinal orientation, so as to allow J -i overall elastic symmetrical and simultaneous deformation of the iame intermediate contact 14 as will be explained thereafter. The blade 14 is made of conductive material and it also has a central contact branch 42 which extends longitudinally inwards from the internal lateral edge 44A of the arm 38A and which extends towards the center, and vertically towards the teas , fa, con that its section, free end con in the form of a pellet 46 is in support and in electrical contact

  o permanent with the central fixed contact 30.

  As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, when the intermediate contact blade is in its stable state of rest, that is to say not elastically deformed, it extends substantially in a horizontal plane with the central branch 42

  which extends vertically towards the teas.

  In its rest position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the right lateral arm 38B is in horizontal support, at least by its longitudinal end edge in contact with the face

  upper conductive 34B of the right lateral fixed contact 30B.

  The two fixed contacts 30 and 30B are therefore electrically connected by the contact blade 14, that is to say that the

  switch 10 is of the normally closed (NC) type.

  When lton acts on the contact blade 14 to deform it in order to cause a change of state of the switch 10, and as can be seen illustrated diagrammatically, in FIG. 4, the central branch 42, 46 remains in contact with the central fixed contact 30, while the section, con or lateral arm 38B, under the effect of the deformation of the contact blade 14, changes position so as to interrupt its

  o electrical contact with the lateral fixed contact 30B, 34B.

  To this end, there is generally a tilting of the arm 38B around the stop 36B which thus constitutes an axis of pivoting or horizontal tilting for the arm 38B which ir is no longer in contact, in any way, with the face upper

34B of the fixed lateral contact 30B.

  Thus, the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts 30 and 30B which was provided by the blade 14, is interrupted, that is to say that the switch, in its actuated state, is located in

an open electrical condition.

  So that the switch 10 is of the tactile effect type, and according to a known design, the rectangular trigger dome 16 is of the monostable type, that is to say that it is normally raised upwards with its central part. actuation 50 offset upwards relative to its edge or lower contour 52 which is dimensioned so as to bear on the upper face opposite the intermediate contact blade 14, along the longitudinal branches 40 and on the upper faces of the lateral arms 38A and 38B. The upper actuating member or actuator 18 is a deformable element whose central part 54 in the form of a pusher, accessible from the outside above the upper face 56 of the cage 20 by projecting through a central hole 58 from where this behind, extends towards the teas by a lower end 60 of actuation which cooperates permanently with the upper face of the central part 50 of the dome of

trip 16.

  In the assembled and assembled state, the triggering member 16 is slightly elastically prestressed

  so as to keep all the components free of play.

  In a known manner, when lton acts vertically towards the teas on the pusher 54, its lower end 60 acts on the central part 50 of the triggering dome 16 which deforms so elastically then suddenly changes state, in particular in view

to provide the tactile sensation.

  The conformation of the triggering member 16 and its cooperation with the intermediate contact plate 14 require J r 'to this rear also to change state and to deform

  to adopt the profile illustrated in particular in FIG. 4.

  The intermediate plate 14 thus behaves like a

  mobile contact element which changes state by "turning".

  The intermediate contact plate 14 remains in its deformed state, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, tries that the triggering member 16 is also in its triggered state, that is to say tries that one does not release ['action on

pusher 54 of the actuator 18.

  o The triggering dome 16 being vertically interposed between the contact blade 14 and the actuator 18, it can, according to a known design, be metallic and therefore conductive of electricity insofar as, in its stable state of rest which also corresponds in the stable state of rest of the blade 14, the assembly 14-16 constitutes a conductive assembly of electricity and insofar as, in its deformed state, it is immaterial that its central conductive part 50 comes into electrical contact with the end section 46 of branch 42 of intermediate contact blade 14 insofar as the opening of the electrical connection takes place at the level of the lateral arm 38B and of the

fixed side contact 30B.

  We will now describe the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, more particularly in comparison

  with the first embodiment described in Figures 1 to 3.

  In this second embodiment, on the one hand, the two fixed contacts 30A and 30B are arranged symmetrically and laterally with their upper conductive faces 34A and 34B coplanar with the adjacent portions of the lateral parts

28A and 28B from the bottom of the housing.

  n / a On the other hand, the domed trigger member 16 constitutes both the trigger member 16 properly

  said, and the intermediate contact plate or blade 14.

  As can be seen in FIG. 6, in its stable state of rest, the configuration of the triggering dome 16 forming j rl 1.4 contact blade 14 is such that it is symmetrically in vertical contact support, in particular by its transverse lower edges 39A and 39B on the exposed portions facing the upper face 34A, 34B of the fixed lateral contacts 30A and 32B. The opposite sides 38A and 38B of the dome 16

  constitute the movable contact arms.

  When one acts on the central part 50 of the triggering dome 16 by means of the push-button 54-60, one causes, the sudden change of state of the triggering member 16, which therefore causes the simultaneous tilting or pivoting of the two movable contact arms 38A and 38B which each tilt or pivot around the stop 36A, 36B so as to interrupt the electrical contact between each movable contact arm 38A, 38B with its associated fixed lateral contact

A, 30B.

^, 7 \ r 1

Claims (11)

  1. Electric switch (10) of the type comprising: - a lower support (12) contact carrier (30, 30A, 30B) made of insulating material (13) which delimits a housing (24) in which wind arranged at least two electrical contacts fixed (30, 30A, B); - an actuating member (20, 54, 60) which acts in a vertical direction (V) substantially perpendicular to the bottom (26, o 28A, 28B) of the housing (24); - An intermediate contact blade (14) made of conductive material which is interposed vertically between the actuating member (20) and the bottom (26) of the housing (24) and which is elastically deformable under the vertical action from above in teas of the actuating member (20) and from a stable state of rest, in which the contact blade (14) extends substantially in a horizontal plane, in order to modify the   electrical connection between the two fixed contacts (30-30B, 30A-   B), characterized in that the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts is established when the contact blade (14) is in its stable state of rest in which a contact section (38A, 38B) of the contact blade is pressing on an associated fixed contact (30A, 30B), and in that the elastic deformation of the contact blade (14) causes displacement of the contact cone (38A, 38B) away from said associated fixed contact (30A , 30B) to interrupt the electrical connection between the two fixed contacts.   2. Switch according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two fixed contacts (30, 30B) wind o shifts vertically relative to each other, and in that said   associated fixed contact is the upper contact (30B).   3. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the two fixed contacts (30A, 30B) wind aligned horizontally, and in that the elastically deformable blade 7 \ r (14) comprises two sections, opposite contact cons (38A, 30B) each of which is in contact respectively with a fixed associated contact (30A, 30B) when the contact blade (14) is in wind in a stable state of rest, the elastic deformation of the contact blade s (14) causing a simultaneous displacement of each of the two sections, cons (38A, 38B) of contact away from the fixed contact   (30A-34A, 30B-34B) associated with it.   4. Switch according to any one of the claims   precedents, characterized in that, in vertical section, the contact section (38A, 38B) is a longitudinal arm of generally horizontal orientation of which at least one free end edge (39A, 39B) is supported on the fixed contact associated when the intermediate blade is in its stable state of rest. s 5. Switch according to the preceding claim, taken in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the two contact arms wind two arms (38A, 38B) opposite, aligned longitudinally and connected together by a central portion of   the contact blade on which the actuating member acts.   o 6. Switch according to any one of the claims   4 or 5, characterized in that the associated fixed contact (30A, 30B) delimits an upper contact surface (34A, 34B) which is coplanar with an adjacent surface portion (28A, 28B) of the bottom of the housing (24) which delimits a horizontal transverse edge (36A, 36B) on which the arm is supported to tilt when it moves away from the associated fixed contact.   7. Switch according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that it comprises a triggering member (16) of generally domed upward which, under the action of the lower free end (60) of the actuating member (20) and from a stable high rest position, is elastically deformable, in the vertical direction (V), towards a low actuation position in which the) 't' i electrical connection between the two fixed contacts (30-30B, 30A-30B) is interrupted.   8. Switch according to the preceding claim taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that s the triggering member (16) is interposed vertically between the lower end (60) of the actuating member (20) and the intermediate contact blade (14).   9. Switch according to claim 7 taken in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the triggering member (16) is made in one piece   with the intermediate contact blade (14).   10. Switch according to any one of   claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the   trip (16) comprises a lower support base and an upper link (50) on which the actuating member (20,) acts. 11. Selor switch! the preceding claim, characterized in that the base is a polyhedron trunk,