GB2306784A - Rocker switch assembly - Google Patents
Rocker switch assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2306784A GB2306784A GB9521589A GB9521589A GB2306784A GB 2306784 A GB2306784 A GB 2306784A GB 9521589 A GB9521589 A GB 9521589A GB 9521589 A GB9521589 A GB 9521589A GB 2306784 A GB2306784 A GB 2306784A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- switch control
- switch
- rocker switch
- opening
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H23/00—Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
- H01H23/02—Details
- H01H23/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
- H01H23/14—Tumblers
- H01H23/143—Tumblers having a generally flat elongated shape
- H01H23/145—Tumblers having a generally flat elongated shape the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward
Landscapes
- Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
Abstract
A rocker switch assembly (10) comprises a housing (12) having an opening (16) therein; a rocker switch including a manually operable switch control (14) which can pivot about an axis and which is positioned in the opening in the housing; and a hinge (22) aligned along the axis and connecting the switch control to the housing, which allows the switch control to pivot relative to the housing. The housing, the switch control, and the hinge means are integrally moulded in one piece from plastics material.
Description
ROCKER SWITCH ASSEMBLY
The present invention relates to a rocker switch assembly, and in particular a rocker switch assembly for use in a motor vehicle.
A rocker switch is an electrical switch which comprises the electrical switch elements and a manually operable switch control which can pivot about an axis and is biased away from the switch elements by a spring.
Depression of the switch control against the bias of the spring brings a rear portion of the switch control into contact with the switch elements to operate the switch.
The switch elements are either mounted on a substantially rigid printed circuit board positioned behind the switch control or are otherwise mounted behind the switch control and have electrical wires connecting the switch elements to terminals located elsewhere. The rocker switch is usually mounted in a housing. Current practice is for the switch control to be clipped or otherwise secured in an opening in the housing such that the switch control can pivot about a centre-line through the switch control. Either the switch control is formed with a pair of apertures or dimples which clip over rounded pegs formed in the opening in the housing or vice versa. The switch control and the housing are moulded separately from plastics material to provide some flexibility when clipping the switch control to the housing.This arrangement requires two separate mouldings to be made, assembly of the switch control with the housing, and the assembly and use of return springs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement to the above known arrangement.
A rocker switch assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing having an opening therein; a rocker switch including a manually operable switch control which can pivot about an axis and which is positioned in the opening in the housing; and hinge means aligned along the axis and connecting the switch control to the housing, which allows the switch control to pivot relative to the housing; wherein the housing, the switch control, and the hinge means are integrally moulded in one piece from plastics material.
Preferably, the housing, the switch control, and the hinge means are integrally moulded with a resilient leg connecting each end of the switch control remote from the axis to an adjacent edge of the opening in the housing.
A rocker switch assembly in accordance with the present invention provides an assembled switch control and housing in one moulding removing the need for separate mouldings and subsequent assembly. Further, the presence of the connecting legs provides a bias on the switch control to remove the need for a separate spring.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a top view of a rocker switch assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line II
II of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is an isometric rear view of the rocker switch assembly of Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, the rocker switch assembly 10 comprises a housing 12 and a manually operable switch control 14. The housing 12 may be part of a dashboard or other switch mounting facia in a motor vehicle. The switch control 14 is part of a rocker switch in which the switch elements of the rocker switch are mounted to the rear of the switch control. Details of the switch elements are not included herein and can be any arrangement known to those skilled in the art.
The switch elements are operated by pegs 28 integrally formed on the rear face 30 of the switch control 14 on pivotal movement of the switch control relative to the housing 12, as described below in more detail.
The housing 12 has an opening 16 therein within which the switch control 14 is mounted. The opening 16 has a pair of opposed side edges 18 and a pair of opposed end edges 20. The switch control 14 is connected to the housing 12 at or adjacent the side edges 18 of the opening 16 by hinge means 22. The hinge means 22 are positioned along the centreline C of the switch control 14. The centreline C defines an axis about which the switch control 14 can pivot relative to the housing 12. Pivotal movement occurs when an operator exerts a force on the front face 32 of the switch control 14 adjacent either end 24 thereof (remote from the centreline C) by manual pressing of the switch control in a rearward direction.The hinge means 22 comprises a pair of U-shaped elements which project rearwardly of the switch control 14 with the ends of each U-shaped element being attached to the switch control and the housing 12 respectively. The length and/or width of each U-shaped element 22 is determined, dependent on the elasticity of the material of the Ushaped elements, to permit limited flexibility to allow the switch control 14 to pivot a predetermined amount to operate the switch elements (not shown) without the risk of fracture of the U-shaped elements. Other shapes of hinge means may be used besides the U-shaped elements described above.
The hinge means 22 provide a certain amount of resilience to pivoting, and hence will act to return the switch control 14 to its rest position (as shown in the drawings) after manual operation. It is preferred, however, to also include a pair of resilient legs 26 connected between the ends 24 of the switch control 14 and an adjacent edge of the opening 16 to enhance the bias on the switch control against pivoting. In the present embodiment, the legs 26 are connected to the side edges 18 of the opening 16. Alternatively, the legs may be connected to the end edges 20 of the opening 16. The legs 26 preferably have a convoluted shape as shown to effectively provide a long spring length over a short distance. The legs 26 are preferably identical to provide a balanced bias about the centreline C.As with the hinge means 22, the length and/or width of the legs 26 is determined, dependent on the elasticity of the material of the legs, to permit limited flexibility to allow the switch control 14 to pivot a predetermined amount to operate the switch elements (not shown) without the risk of fracture of the legs.
Further, the predetermined length and/or width of the U-shaped elements 22 and the legs 26 is determined such that the force required to pivot the switch control 14 can be set to suit any required criteria.
In accordance with the present invention, the housing 12, the switch control 14, the hinge means 22 and the legs 26 are integrally moulded in one piece from plastics material. In comparison to the prior known arrangements, the present invention reduces the number of component parts from two individually moulded parts to one integral design, obsoletes the need for return springs, and eliminates subsequent assembly steps.
Claims (5)
1. A rocker switch assembly comprising a housing having an opening therein; a rocker switch including a manually operable switch control which can pivot about an axis and which is positioned in the opening in the housing; and hinge means aligned along the axis and connecting the switch control to the housing, which allows the switch control to pivot relative to the housing; wherein the housing, the switch control, and the hinge means are integrally moulded in one piece from plastics material.
2. A rocker switch assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the housing, the switch control, and the hinge means are integrally moulded with a resilient leg connecting each end of the switch control remote frcm the axis to an adjacent edge of the opening in the housing.
3. A rocker switch assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each resilient leg has a convoluted shape.
4. A rocker switch assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the hinge means comprises a pair of U-shaped elements.
5. A rocker switch assembly substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9521589A GB2306784A (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1995-10-20 | Rocker switch assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9521589A GB2306784A (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1995-10-20 | Rocker switch assembly |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9521589D0 GB9521589D0 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
| GB2306784A true GB2306784A (en) | 1997-05-07 |
Family
ID=10782690
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9521589A Withdrawn GB2306784A (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1995-10-20 | Rocker switch assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2306784A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2999785A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-20 | Delphi Tech Inc | Control device e.g. push button, for use in control module to e.g. adjust external rear view mirror, has elastic front strip and rear strip solicit central unit and front and rear units towards each other so as to maintain parts in contact |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1259356A (en) * | 1969-04-16 | 1972-01-05 | ||
| GB2084801A (en) * | 1980-09-30 | 1982-04-15 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Keypad button |
| GB2084802A (en) * | 1980-09-30 | 1982-04-15 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Keypad buttons |
| GB2087154A (en) * | 1980-11-04 | 1982-05-19 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Keypad button |
| WO1982002112A1 (en) * | 1980-12-08 | 1982-06-24 | Ncr Co | Keyboard and method of making keyboard |
-
1995
- 1995-10-20 GB GB9521589A patent/GB2306784A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1259356A (en) * | 1969-04-16 | 1972-01-05 | ||
| GB2084801A (en) * | 1980-09-30 | 1982-04-15 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Keypad button |
| GB2084802A (en) * | 1980-09-30 | 1982-04-15 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Keypad buttons |
| GB2087154A (en) * | 1980-11-04 | 1982-05-19 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Keypad button |
| WO1982002112A1 (en) * | 1980-12-08 | 1982-06-24 | Ncr Co | Keyboard and method of making keyboard |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2999785A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-20 | Delphi Tech Inc | Control device e.g. push button, for use in control module to e.g. adjust external rear view mirror, has elastic front strip and rear strip solicit central unit and front and rear units towards each other so as to maintain parts in contact |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9521589D0 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
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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) |