GB2296382A - Switches - Google Patents

Abstract

A toggle switch for mounting in a pattress comprises a switch mechanism 11 with an outwardly facing boss carrying a toggle 10 and a peripheral flange 12 and a fixing plate 13 either formed by the flange or having a central aperture 14 adapted to receive the switch mechanism but not to allow passage of the flange. The fixing plate has at least two apertures 15, 16 for fixing screws. A metal cover plate 17 is adapted to cover the outer surface of the fixing plate and to be attached thereto and has at least two apertures 19, 20 for fixing screws. The cover plate has an outwardly facing centrally located raised portion 18 which allows passage of the toggle but covers the boss. The cover plate is attached to the fixing plate by flanges 21, 22 formed by driving the peripheral metal around the fixing apertures in the cover plate through the fixing apertures in the fixing plate. Alternatively the cover plate is attached by using separate tubular eyelets which are driven through the fixing apertures and swaged at each end to form retaining flanges. <IMAGE>

Description

SWITCHES This invention relates to switches and more paricularly to wall mounting toggle switches for use in domestic and industrial environments.

Wall mounting switches are known in which a switch plate, made from metal or a synthetic polymeric material carries a switch mechanism and is held in a wall mounted pattress box by means of a pair of screws. In the case of rocker switches attachment to a metal plate is comparatively simple. A thin metal plate is fitted over the outer surface of a rigid polymeric switch structure and held in place by bending the edges of the metal plate around the edges of the polymeric switch surface or by the use of tub ular eyelets placed through the fixing screw holes and swaged between the outer face of the metal plate and the inner faces of two flanges on the rocker switch.

With toggle switches it is customary to attach the metal plate to the switch by means of an internally threaded nut or ring which is screwed on the threaded boss of the toggle mechanism. Such a method of attachment requires a long threaded boss to carry the toggle and results in the toggle protruding outwardly from the switch plate more than is functionally necessary.

The retaining ring on such toggle switches can often be unscrewed without the use of tools. In many environments, such as homes with children or mentally disturbed adults there is a danger of gaining access to live wires resulting in injury or death.

The present invention provides a method of forming a metal surfaced toggle switch with a lower profile, simpler construction and greater safety than those known previously.

According to the present invention there is provided a toggle switch for mounting in a pattress comprising a switch mechanism with an outwardly facing boss carrying a toggle and a partial or complete peripheral flange, a fixing plate either formed by the flange or having a central aperture adapted to receive the switch mechanism but not to allow passage of the flange, the fixing plate carrying at least two apertures for fixing screws, a metal cover plate adapted to cover the outer surface of the fixing plate and be attached thereto having at least two apertures for fixing screws, characterised in that the cover plate has an outwardly facing centrally located raised portion which allows passage of the toggle but covers the boss, and in that the cover plate is attached to the fixing plate by flanges formed by driving the peripheral metal around the fixing apertures in the cover plate through the fixing apertures in the fixing plate and forming a retaining flange or is attached by using separate tubular eyelets which are driven through the fixing apertures and swaged at each end to form retaining flanges, The metal cover plate is preferably fabricated from brass sheet and highly polished on the outwardly facing surface.

Other metals may be used to provide an alternative surface directly or may be plated to simulate a brass cover plate or to provide chromium surface. The thickness of the cover plate must be adequate to ensure mechanical rigidity.

Brass sheet in the thickness range 0.5 to 1.5 mm is gener ally satisfactory depending on the grade of brass chosen.

Apart from the outwardly facing centrally located raised portion the cover plate may be impressed with decorative features such as a peripheral rope pattern or other designs.

in an alternative embodiment the switch mechanism may comprise a rocker switch type with a toggle assembly fitted over it and retained by the cover plate. The toggle assembly consists of a hemispherical toggle base which is pivotally attached to a rocker type switch mechanism.

In alternative embodiments a series of switch mechanisms may be placed beneath a single cover plate with a series of outwardly facing raised portions in respect of each toggle.

The method of fixing the cover plate to the switch mechan i m rcmi ns the !:(lme as that described for a uiige switch.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toggle switch attached to a cover plate in accordance with the prior art, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toggle switch attached to a cover plate in accordance with the invention and Figure 3 is an alternative embodiment of the toggle switch shown in Figure 2.

A toggle switch according to the prior art, see figure 1, comprises a toggle 1 pivotally mounted in a threaded boss 2 forming part of the switch body 3. The switch is mounted on a switch plate 4 by means of a threaded retaining ring 5. Because of the necessity for a number of threads on the boss 2 and the interior of the ring 5 to engage the ring 5 forms an appreciable outward protrusion from the surface of the switch plate. Furthermore the retaining ring can often be unscrewed, without the use of tools, so that such switches represent a potential hazard in certain environments.

A toggle switch according to the invention see figure 2, comprises a toggle 10 pivotally mounted within a switch body 11. The upper surface of the switch body 11 carries a retaining flange 12. A fixing plate 13 has a central aperture 14 having a restricted cross-sectional area permitting the switch body 11 to pass through the aperture but not the flange 12. The fixing plate 13 carries two apertures 15 and 16 for the passage of retaining screws, not shown. A cover plate 17 has an outwardly facing centrally located raised portion 18 which allows the passage and movement of the toggle 10. The plate 17 also carries apertures 19 and 20 for the passage of retaining screws.

The plate 17 is attached to the fixing plate 13 by means of retaining flanges 21 and 22 formed by driving the peripheral metal around the fixing apertures 19 and 20 in the cover plate through the fixing apertures 15 and 16 respectively in the fixing plate 13. The assembled switch is fitted into and attached to a wall or otherwise mounted pattress by means of screws passed through the apertures 19 and 20. Alternatively the plates 13 and 17 may be attached by placing a tubular eyelet through both the apertures 15 and 19 and also through both the apertures 16 and 20. The ends of the eyelets are swaced outwardly to form retaining flanges that hod the plates 13 and 17 rigidly.

In alternative embodiments the switch may be a multi-gang type with two or more toggle operated switch mechanisms.

In such embodiments the cover plate has a series of outwardly facing located raised portions to allow each of the operating toggles to pass through the plate.

As indicated previously, the flange 12 may extend outwardly to an extent which permits it to act on its own as the fixing plate so that a separate fixing plate 13 is not required.

In an alternative embodiment, see figure 3, a toggle assembly comprising a toggle 30 having a hemi-spherical base 31 is pivotally mounted on a pin 32. When the toggle 30 is moved the mechanism of a rocker switch 33 is operated. The toggle assembly is maintained in position by a raised portion 34 on a cover plate 35. The plate 35 is attached to the switch mechanism 33 by retaining flanges, not shown, in the same manner as that described with reference to figure 2.

Claims (10)

1. A toggle switch for mounting in a pattress comprising a switch mechanism with an outwardly facing boss carrying a toggle and a partial or complete peripheral flange. a fixing plate either formed by the flange or having a central aperture adapted to receive the switch mechanism but not to allow passage of the flange the fixing plate carrying at least two apertures for fixing screws a metal cover plate adapted to cover the outer surface of the fixing plate and be attached thereto having at least two apertures for fixing screws. characterised in that the cover plate has an outwardly facing centrally located raised portion which allows passage of the toggle but covers the boss. and in that the cover plate is attached to the fixing plate by flanges formed by driving the peripheral metal around the fixing apertures in the cover plate through the fixing apertures in the fixing plate and forming a retaining flange or is attached by using separate tubular eyelets which are driven through the fixing apertures and swaged at each end to form retaining flanges.

2 A toggle switch as claimed in claim 1. characterised in that the metal cover plate is fabricated from brass sheet and highly polished on the outwardly facing surface.

3. A toggle switch as claimed in claim 1. characterised in that the metal cover plate is fabricated from a metal other than brass and in that the surface is plated to simulate a brass cover plate.

4. A toggle switch as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3.

characterised in that the thickness of the metal cover plate lies in the range 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

5. A toggle switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims. characterised in that the cover plate is impressed with decorative features.

6. A toggle switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims. characterised in that the switch mechanism comprises a rocker switch type with a toggle assembly fitted over it and retained by the cover plate.

7. A toggle switch as claimed in claim 6. characterised in that the toggle assembly consists of a hemispherical toggle base which is pivotally attached to a rocker type switch mechanism.

8. A toggle switch as claimed in any of the preceding claims. characterised in that a series of switch mechanisms are placed beneath a single cover plate with a series of outwardly facing raised portions in respect of each toggle.

9. loggle switches as claimed in claim 1 and herein described.

10. Toggle switches as claimed as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.