GB2134715A - A control box or panel - Google Patents

A control box or panel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2134715A
GB2134715A GB08401242A GB8401242A GB2134715A GB 2134715 A GB2134715 A GB 2134715A GB 08401242 A GB08401242 A GB 08401242A GB 8401242 A GB8401242 A GB 8401242A GB 2134715 A GB2134715 A GB 2134715A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
panel
cover
control box
box
sub
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08401242A
Other versions
GB8401242D0 (en
Inventor
Colin Trafford Marsh
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Automated Security Holdings Ltd
Original Assignee
Automated Security Holdings Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB838301565A external-priority patent/GB8301565D0/en
Application filed by Automated Security Holdings Ltd filed Critical Automated Security Holdings Ltd
Priority to GB08401242A priority Critical patent/GB2134715A/en
Publication of GB8401242D0 publication Critical patent/GB8401242D0/en
Publication of GB2134715A publication Critical patent/GB2134715A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/004—Larger or different actuating area
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/008—Actuators other then push button
    • H01H2221/016—Lever; Rocker
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/07—Actuators transparent

Landscapes

  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

A control box or control panel has a cover 16 divided into a comprising discrete portions 22 each of which is selectively displaceable relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover. Displacement of the cover portions 22 actuates mechanically operated switches or other control devices disposed within the control box or behind the panel. This arrangement avoids the need for protruding switch operating buttons or levers leaving an aesthetically pleasing appearance and facilitating operation and cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Control box or panel This invention relates to a control box or panel, more particularly such a box or panel for an electrically operated system incorporating switches or other mechanically operated control devices.
We propose a control box or panel having a cover divided into or comprising discrete cover portions which are selectively displaceable relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover to operate control devices within the cover or behind the control panel. The disposition of the discrete portion or portions of the cover is conveniently such as to correspond with the disposition of control devices such as switches or the like within the control box or behind the panel, whereby displacement of the said discrete portion or portions, can be effective to operate control devices associated therewith.
One advantage of the present invention is that the need for protruding switch operating buttons or levers or to open the control box in order to gain access to the electrical controls within, is avoided.
A control box cover or panel can therefore be designed with clean and elegant lines, creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and yet be simple to operate and clean.
In a control box or panel particularly suited for intruder or fire alarms systems or the like, systems having a number of sub-circuits or control loops each with separate switching arrangements and visual indicators, for example, lamps or lights indicating that particular circuits are activated, the said discrete portion or portions of the cover may be formed of a transparent or translucent material so that the indicators are visible therethrough.
A preferred embodiment of control box or panel according to the present invention has a panel of transparent or translucent plastics material divided into or comprising discrete sub-panels which are cantilevered at one end so as to be independently displaceable relative to adjacent sub-panels by virtue of the resilience of the plastics material. Preferably, the panel is set into a recess in a main cover of the box or panel, each cantilevered sub-panel having at its free end a projection extending through an opening in the main cover for engagement with a suitable actuating member behind the cover. Alternatively, the switch actuating member may protrude through the opening.
Other openings may be provided in the main cover to reveal indicator lamps associated with particular sub-panels.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a front view of a control box for an alarm system; Figure 2 is a side view of the control box shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a part of the cover of the control box shown in Figure 1.
The control box shown in the Figures, is for an alarm system incorporating a plurality of switched circuits, and contains a modular arrangement of switches and associated circuitry, the modules 10 being disposed laterally of the control box 12 in a row extending vertically from the top to bottom of a middle portion 14 of the box.
A cover 1 6 of the control box includes a transparent or translucent plastics material panel 18 set into a recessed middle portion of the main cover moulding 20 and is divided by slits into discrete sub-panels 22 which are connected together along one edge 1 9 of the panel 1 8 as shown to provide a cantilever support at one end.
The sub-panels extend across and are spaced above the recessed middle portion of the main cover moulding in positions corresponding to the positions of the modules 10 within the box. At the free end of each cantilever sub-panel is a projection 24 which extends downwardly through an opening in the main cover moulding to a point above a push-button for actuating a switch within the module 10 associated therewith.
Other openings 26 in the recessed middle portion of the main cover moulding are aligned with indicator lamps or light emitting diodes (not shown) on the modules beneath whereby the lamp or the like of a particular module is visible through the transparent or translucent sub-panel associated with that module.
Another panel 28 of the same transparent or translucent material hinged to the main cover moulding, covers the remainder of the recessed middle portion whereon designations and/or operating instructions appropriate to particular module and associated sub-panels can be inscribed. Figure 1 shows the control box with the hinged panel 28 open.
Individual modules, in this embodiment, alarm circuits can be set or re-set (switched in or out) simply by pressing the appropriate cantilever subpanel and the indicator or warning light indicating the state of that circuit is visible through the transparent or translucent cover.
1. A control box or panel having a cover divided into or comprising discrete cover portions which are selectively displaceable relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover to operate control devices within the cover or behind the control panel.
2. A control box or panel for an electrically operated system incorporating a plurality of subcircuits or control loops each with separate control devices, the control box or panel having a cover comprising discrete cover portions adapted for displacement relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover and arranged in correspondence with the arrangement of control devices within the box or behind the panel such that displacement of the discrete portions is effective for selective operation of the devices associated therewith.
3. A control box or panel according to claim 1
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Control box or panel This invention relates to a control box or panel, more particularly such a box or panel for an electrically operated system incorporating switches or other mechanically operated control devices. We propose a control box or panel having a cover divided into or comprising discrete cover portions which are selectively displaceable relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover to operate control devices within the cover or behind the control panel. The disposition of the discrete portion or portions of the cover is conveniently such as to correspond with the disposition of control devices such as switches or the like within the control box or behind the panel, whereby displacement of the said discrete portion or portions, can be effective to operate control devices associated therewith. One advantage of the present invention is that the need for protruding switch operating buttons or levers or to open the control box in order to gain access to the electrical controls within, is avoided. A control box cover or panel can therefore be designed with clean and elegant lines, creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and yet be simple to operate and clean. In a control box or panel particularly suited for intruder or fire alarms systems or the like, systems having a number of sub-circuits or control loops each with separate switching arrangements and visual indicators, for example, lamps or lights indicating that particular circuits are activated, the said discrete portion or portions of the cover may be formed of a transparent or translucent material so that the indicators are visible therethrough. A preferred embodiment of control box or panel according to the present invention has a panel of transparent or translucent plastics material divided into or comprising discrete sub-panels which are cantilevered at one end so as to be independently displaceable relative to adjacent sub-panels by virtue of the resilience of the plastics material. Preferably, the panel is set into a recess in a main cover of the box or panel, each cantilevered sub-panel having at its free end a projection extending through an opening in the main cover for engagement with a suitable actuating member behind the cover. Alternatively, the switch actuating member may protrude through the opening. Other openings may be provided in the main cover to reveal indicator lamps associated with particular sub-panels. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a front view of a control box for an alarm system; Figure 2 is a side view of the control box shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a part of the cover of the control box shown in Figure 1. The control box shown in the Figures, is for an alarm system incorporating a plurality of switched circuits, and contains a modular arrangement of switches and associated circuitry, the modules 10 being disposed laterally of the control box 12 in a row extending vertically from the top to bottom of a middle portion 14 of the box. A cover 1 6 of the control box includes a transparent or translucent plastics material panel 18 set into a recessed middle portion of the main cover moulding 20 and is divided by slits into discrete sub-panels 22 which are connected together along one edge 1 9 of the panel 1 8 as shown to provide a cantilever support at one end. The sub-panels extend across and are spaced above the recessed middle portion of the main cover moulding in positions corresponding to the positions of the modules 10 within the box. At the free end of each cantilever sub-panel is a projection 24 which extends downwardly through an opening in the main cover moulding to a point above a push-button for actuating a switch within the module 10 associated therewith. Other openings 26 in the recessed middle portion of the main cover moulding are aligned with indicator lamps or light emitting diodes (not shown) on the modules beneath whereby the lamp or the like of a particular module is visible through the transparent or translucent sub-panel associated with that module. Another panel 28 of the same transparent or translucent material hinged to the main cover moulding, covers the remainder of the recessed middle portion whereon designations and/or operating instructions appropriate to particular module and associated sub-panels can be inscribed. Figure 1 shows the control box with the hinged panel 28 open. Individual modules, in this embodiment, alarm circuits can be set or re-set (switched in or out) simply by pressing the appropriate cantilever subpanel and the indicator or warning light indicating the state of that circuit is visible through the transparent or translucent cover. CLAIMS
1. A control box or panel having a cover divided into or comprising discrete cover portions which are selectively displaceable relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover to operate control devices within the cover or behind the control panel.
2. A control box or panel for an electrically operated system incorporating a plurality of subcircuits or control loops each with separate control devices, the control box or panel having a cover comprising discrete cover portions adapted for displacement relative to and independently of adjacent portions of the cover and arranged in correspondence with the arrangement of control devices within the box or behind the panel such that displacement of the discrete portions is effective for selective operation of the devices associated therewith.
3. A control box or panel according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the discrete cover portions are defined by slits or the like in the cover and dividing each of the said discrete portions from an adjacent cover portion.
4. A box or panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the cover comprises a panel divided into or comprising discrete sub-panels each being cantilevered so as to be independently displaceable relative to adjacent sub-panels.
5. A box or panel according to claim 4 wherein the panel is set into a recess in a main cover of the control box or panel, each cantilevered sub-panel having at its free end a projection extending through an opening in the main cover for engagement with an actuating member of a control device behind the main cover.
6. A box or panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least a part of the displaceable portion or portions of the cover are transparent or translucent so that visual indicators within the control box or behind the panel are visible therethrough.
7. A box or panel according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the panels divided into or comprising discrete sub-panels, is formed of translucent or transparent plastics material.
GB08401242A 1983-01-20 1984-01-18 A control box or panel Withdrawn GB2134715A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08401242A GB2134715A (en) 1983-01-20 1984-01-18 A control box or panel

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB838301565A GB8301565D0 (en) 1983-01-20 1983-01-20 Control box/panel
GB08401242A GB2134715A (en) 1983-01-20 1984-01-18 A control box or panel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8401242D0 GB8401242D0 (en) 1984-02-22
GB2134715A true GB2134715A (en) 1984-08-15

Family

ID=26284973

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08401242A Withdrawn GB2134715A (en) 1983-01-20 1984-01-18 A control box or panel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2134715A (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1473350A (en) * 1975-02-26 1977-05-11 Plessey Co Ltd Cover for push-button controlled electrical switches
GB2013401A (en) * 1978-01-25 1979-08-08 Brady Co W H Backlighting flexible switch
GB1584018A (en) * 1977-02-22 1981-02-04 Chomerics Inc Keyboard with electrical contacts
GB2054270A (en) * 1979-06-22 1981-02-11 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Push button assembly
GB2085230A (en) * 1980-10-07 1982-04-21 Int Standard Electric Corp Pushbutton keyboard
GB2096395A (en) * 1981-03-20 1982-10-13 Sony Corp Switch panels
GB2107523A (en) * 1981-10-14 1983-04-27 Itt Multiple membrane switch

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1473350A (en) * 1975-02-26 1977-05-11 Plessey Co Ltd Cover for push-button controlled electrical switches
GB1584018A (en) * 1977-02-22 1981-02-04 Chomerics Inc Keyboard with electrical contacts
GB2013401A (en) * 1978-01-25 1979-08-08 Brady Co W H Backlighting flexible switch
GB2054270A (en) * 1979-06-22 1981-02-11 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Push button assembly
GB2085230A (en) * 1980-10-07 1982-04-21 Int Standard Electric Corp Pushbutton keyboard
GB2096395A (en) * 1981-03-20 1982-10-13 Sony Corp Switch panels
GB2107523A (en) * 1981-10-14 1983-04-27 Itt Multiple membrane switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8401242D0 (en) 1984-02-22

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)