GB2265756A

GB2265756A - Switch

Info

Publication number: GB2265756A
Application number: GB9222648A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Stewart
Original assignee: BCS Automotive Interface Solutions GmbH; TRW Messmer and Co KG
Current assignee: BCS Automotive Interface Solutions GmbH; TRW Messmer and Co KG
Priority date: 1992-03-30
Filing date: 1992-10-28
Publication date: 1993-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-28
Also published as: GB2265756B; DE4210447A1; DE4210447C2; GB9222648D0

Abstract

A switch 1 comprises a switch housing 2 containing at least one switch unit 3 and an operating element 4 for operating the switch unit. The operating element 4 has at least one ramp-shaped incline 5 which defines an acute angle with the operating direction I of the operating element 4. Upon movement of the operating element 4, a spring tongue 6 which is connected to the housing 2 interacts with the ramp-shaped incline 5 to cause the tongue 6 to move an operating part 20 of the switch unit 3 in a direction II different from the operating direction I of the operating element 4. <IMAGE>

Description

r 2265756 1 Switch The invention relates to a switch having a switch

housing, having at least one switch unit arranged therein, and having at least one operating element for operating the switch unit.

The generally known prior - art already includes switches in which the switch unit is located in the same (or in the same plane as the) operating element. Limits are thus set for these known switches with respect to their installation, since the situation frequently arises that the switch unit must be arranged in a position located at an angle with respect to the movement direc tion of the operating element.

Furthermore. switches are known in which the risk exists that, in the event of rough handling, the operating elements act so severely on the switch unit allocated to them that damage results or, in the case of extreme heat or cold, the material expansion leads to incorrect operation.

The present invention is thus based on the object of 'designing a switch of the type mentioned initially such that, with a simple construction, the switch unit can be located in' a different plane with respect to the movement direction of the operating element, the complete unit being intended to have a robust structure.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the operating element has at least one ramp-shaped incline which includes an acute angle with 2 the movement direction of the operating element and, provided in the region of the 'switch unit, there is a sprung tongue which is connected to the housing, acts on the switch unit, and interacts with the ramp- shaped incline of the operating element which is allocated to this switch unit, it being possible to convert the movement direction of the operating element into the operating direction of the switch unit.

This results in the advantage that, for example, the conversion of a vertical movement of the operating element into a horizontal movement for operating a switch unit which is arranged at right angles thereto is possible, the complete arrangement of the ramp- shaped incline and the sprung tongue making it possible to withstand even robust loads.

In a further refinement of the invention,, the possibility exists of allocating a plurality of sprung tongues and/or switch units to one rampshaped incline of the operating element. In consequence, a plurality of switch units can be acted on by one operating element, and corresponding switching functions can be carried out.

The sprung -tongues can be integrally connected to the housing, these sprung tongues being constructed as a part of the housing wall which is bent into the interior of the switch. In order to protect the sprung tongues - against overloading, the connecting region of the sprung tongue to the housing wall can be provided with a weakening in the material.

In order to improve the operation of the switch unit, the sprung tongue may have a domed projection. Furthermore, in the region between the end which interacts with the ramp-shaped incline and the region which interacts with the switch unit, the sprung tongue may have a further weak point so that, in consequence, the switch unit is protected against overloading. This also results in tolerance compensation, in order to ensure switching operation.

3 The switch unit may be constructed as a microswitch or as a snap element.

In a further refinement of the invention, the operating element may be constructed in each case as a 3 slide, it being possible for this slide to be acted on in each case by a spring. In this case, the slide may in each case have a latching region which interacts with at least one sprung latching element which is connected to the housing and is used as a stop for the movement of the slide. The latching element may be constructed as a part of the housing wall which is bent into the interior, the connection region of the latching element to the housing wall being provided with a weakening in the material as further overload protection. 15 The invention is described in more detail in the following text, using exemplary embodiments which are shown in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view, partially cut away, through a switch with the operating element and 20 switch unit in the quiescent position; Fig. 2 shows the view according to Fig. 1 during operation of the switch unit via the operating element; Fig. 3 shows a different embodiment possibility of the 25 invention which is analogous to the embodiment according to Fig. 1, having a latching element which is arranged an the housing; Fig. 4 shows a side section through a switch according to the invention, with the operating element and 30 switch unit. According to Figs. 1 and 4. the switch 1 according to the invention consists essentially of a housing 2 within which a switch. unit 3 is arranged whose operation can be initiated by an operating element 4. 35 As can be seen f rom Fig. 1, the operating element 4 moves in the direction of the arrow Ir while in contrast with this, the operation of the switch unit 3 is 4 to be carried out in the direction of the arrow II. In order to convert this movement 'I into the movement 11, the operating element 4 has at least one ramp-shapedincline 5 which includes an acute angle a with the movement direction 1 of the operating element.

A sprung tongue 6, which is connected to the housing 2 and acts on the switch unit 3, is provided in the region of the switch unit 3. The sprung tongue 6 has a domed projection 10 which acts on a peg 20 of the switch unit 3.

This sprung tongue 6 interacts with the rampshaped incline 5 of the operating element 4 so that, in consequence, the possibility is created of converting the movement 1 of the operating element 4 into the operation 11 of the switching unit 3. This switch unit 3 may, for example, be constructed as a microswitch.

This conversion has taken place in Fig. 2, that is to say the sprung tongue 6 has been pivoted in the direction of the arrow 111 in the clockwise direction through a specific angular amount, to be precise with the aid of the ramp- shaped incline 5 which has been pressed downwards by the movement of the operating element 4 in the direction of the arrow 1.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the tongue 6 is integrally connected to the housing 2. In this case, the tongue 6 is constructed as a part 7 of the housing wall 8 which is bent into the switch interior. in order to protect the tongue 6 against excessively coarse operation and overloading, the connecting region 9 of the tongue 6 is provided, with the housing wall 8, with a weakening in the material.

A further, deliberately designed weak point. 11 is located in the region between the end which interacts with the ramp-shaped incline.5 and the region which interacts with the switch unit 3. In consequence, the sprung tongue 6 is additionally weakened, so that undesired damage of the switch unit 3 is prevented even in the case of coarse operation of the switch 1.

The two weak points thus have the following function:

The weakening of the material in the region g of the' tongue 6 is used for protection of this tongue against mechanical overloading. The second weak point 11 of the tongue is used, in contrast, for protection of the switch unit 3.

The operation element 4 may be constructed as a slide 12, it being possible to see from Fig. 4 that the slide 12 is acted on by a spring 13. which is shown schematically. In consequence, the operating element 4, that is to say the slide 12, can return from the operating position shown in Fig. 2 into the quiescent position shown in Fig. 1, as a result of which the operation of the switch unit 3 is interrupted.

In order to limit this return movement of the operating element 4, that is to say of the slide 12, according to Figs. 3 and 4 the slide 12 has a latching region 14 in the form of a shoulder. This latching region 14 interacts with a sprung latching element 15 which is connected to the housing 2.

If the slide 12, that is to say the operating element 4, is located in the operating position (analogously to Fig. 2), then the spring 13 is compressed and there is an intermediate space between the latching region 14 of the slide 12 and the associated plane of the latching element 15. If the operating element 4 is then no longer being acted on, it returns into its quiescent position (analogously. to Fig. 1) under the influence of the spring. so that the latching region 14 stops against the corresponding surface of the latching elementIS and hence limits the linear movement of the operating element - 4, that is to say of the slide 12.

It can furthermore be seen f rom Figs. 3 and 4 tha. the latching element 15 is constructed as a part 17 of the housing 8 which is bent into the interior of the switch. In order to protect this part 17 against overloading as well. the connecting region 18 of the latching 6 element 15 may be provided, with the housing wall 8, with a weakening in the material.

The switch according to the invention makes it possible, with a small design cast, to convert a vertical movement (direction of the arrow 1) of the operating element 4 into a horizontal movement (direction of the arrow 11) in order to operate a switch unit 3, f or example a microswitch, which is arranged at right angles with respect to the operating element.

Furthermore,. the sprung tongue 6 has weakenings 9 and 11 in the material, as a result of which, advantageously, mechanical stresses of the switch unit 3 which are unacceptably high are correctly prevented during coarse action on the operating element 4.

is The latching element 15, which is integrally connected to the housing 2, is furthermore used as a stop for the linear movement of the operating element 4, that is to say of the slide 12, and additionally represents a type of snap closure for fixing the operating element 4 inside the housing 2.

The possibility, which is not represented in more detail according to the invention, exists that each rampshaped incline 5 of the operating element 4 has allocated to it a plurality of sprung tongues 6 and/or switch units 3. In consequence, a plurality of sprung tongues can be moved simultaneously out of the quiescent position into the operating position, by acting on the operating element 4, and hence a plurality of switch units can be operated.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A switch comprising a switch housing, at least one switch unit arranged therein and switchable by movement of a part thereof in a first direction, and an operating element for operating the or each switch unit, the operating element being moveable in an operating direction different from said first direction and having at least one ramp-shaped incline defining an acute angle with said operating direction and arranged to act on a sprung tongue connected to the housing to cause the sprung tongue to act on the or each switch unit to convert movement of the operating element in said operating direction into movement of the or each switch unit part in said first direction.

2. A switch according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sprung tongues and/or switch units are allocated to one said ramp-shaped incline of the operating element.

3. A switch according to claim I or 2, wherein the or each sprung tongue is integral with the housing.

4. A switch according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the 8 or each sprung tongue is a respective part of a wall of the housing which extends into the interior of the switch.

5. A switch according to claim 4, wherein a region connecting the or each sprung tongue with the housing wall is provided with a weakening.

6. A switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each sprung tongue has a projection for operating a respective said switch unit.

7. A switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each sprung tongue has a weak point in a region thereof between an end which interacts with the ramp-shaped incline and a region which interacts with the switch unit.

8. A switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each switch unit comprises a microswitch or snap element.

9. A switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating element comprises a slide.

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10. A switch according to claim 9, wherein the slide is acted on by a spring.

11. A switch according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the slide has a latching region which interacts with at least one sprung latching element connected to the housing and providing a stop for movement of the slide.

12. A switch according to claim 11, wherein the latching element is a part of a wall of the housing which extends into the interior of the switch.

13. A switch according to claim 12, wherein a region connecting the latching element with the housing wall is provided with a weakening.

14. A switch comprising a switch unit operable by movement of a part thereof in one direction, an operating element movable in another direction, and means cooperable with said switch unit part and said operating element for causing movement of said switch unit part in said one direction on movement of said operating element in said other direction.

15. A switch substantially as herein described with 1 reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.