US3127493A

US3127493A - Illuminated flush push button switch

Info

Publication number: US3127493A
Application number: US84033A
Authority: US
Inventors: Buckley R Reed
Original assignee: KM WHITE CO Inc
Current assignee: ARTHUR H BERNDTSON; Armor Elevator Co Inc; KM WHITE CO Inc
Priority date: 1961-01-23
Filing date: 1961-01-23
Publication date: 1964-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-31

Description

March 3l, 1964 B. REED Filed Jan. 25, 1961 ILLUMTNATED FLUSH PUSH BUTTON SWITCH INVENTOR bUcK/ EY R. REED ATTORNEY i United States Patent Oiliee 3,127,493 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,127,493 HLLUMENATED FLUSH FUSH BUTTON SWITCH Buckley R. Reed, Jailey Station, Ky., assigner to K. M. White Company, inc., Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed lau. 23, 196i, Ser. No. $4,033 2 (Claims. (Cl. Zim- 167) The present invention relates to an illuminated flush push button switch which `is especially suitable for use in elevator control systems.

Gne problem encountered with automatic and semiautomatic elevators, which have come into wide-spread use, is the accidental operation of push buttons in lobbies and cars due to crowded conditions. Also, there are a number of important requisites which must be met by a satisfactory elevator push button switch. For example: it is preferable that the switch be illuminated, and have good lamp life to minimize maintenance; the switch should operate with a short push button stroke, yet have adequate Contact gap and long contact life; the switch should be compact so that it easily ts in small and shallow openings. As will be apparent, many of these objectives for a good illuminated push button switch of the flush type are to some extent incompatible from the design viewpoint, thus posing difculties in creating a satisfactory switch of this hind.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new, improved ilush type push button switch in which the outermost part of the operating button is substantially ush with the outer switch panel surface to prevent accidental operation, but `which attords convenient operation of the push button through beveling of the portion of the switch body around the push button to provide as ready access to the operating button as if it projected beyond the surface of the control panel in the usual manner.

lt is another obiect of this invention to provide such a iiush type push button switch in which the operating button can be illuminated, or the beveled switch portion `surrounding the button can be illuminated to provide a halo eect, or both. It is a related object to provide such an illuminated elevator switch that is so compact it will easily tit in the car station or hall button box, yet is so designed that it can utilize a standard size lamp, and has two long life lamp contacts, thus providing good lamp life. lt is another related object of the present invention to provide such an illuminated switch which is so designed that the lamp can be easily removed yfrom its housing for replacement when necessary.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide such a compact illuminated ilush type push button switch having electrical spring contact mem ers which are so designed that the moving contact buttons have a substantially longer travel than the switch operating push 'J button, thereby providing an adequate gap betwen the movable and fixed contacts with a short push button operating stroke. it is another related object of the present invention to provide such a compact switch having elongated spring contact members in a conned space, thus reducing the bending stress on these contact members, while permitting long over-travel, thereby providing long contact life and reducing maintenance.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide a new improved compact, illuminated, ilush type push button elevator switch which has the foregoing `advantages, yet is of simplified construction so that it can be economically made and has competitive advantages in the market for which it is intended.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the :following description thereof with reference to lthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FiGURE l is a side elevation view of the new improved push button switch of the present invention, with part of the switch base and cap being broken away to show the push button and other parts more clearly, and with a fragmentary illustrative showing of cover and mounting plates for a typical switch installation;

FiGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in lFIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the push lbutton switch of this invention (showing the side opposite that shown in FEGURE l);

FIGURE l is a top plan View of the push button switch shown in FlGURES l-3; and

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the push button switch shown in FIGURES 1 4.

Referring to the drawings, the new improved flush type push button switch or" the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and is shown in FIG- URE l as it would be mounted in a typical installation with conventional mounting plate l2 and cover or panel plate 1li.

Switch lll comprises a main body 16 that is of substmtially rectangular outline and has a main base portion from which there extend two like substantially rectangular end members i8, and a somewhat shorter and wider centrally disposed block Ztl which is also of generally rectangular shape. As will be apparent, the adjacent sides of ends ld' and centrally disposed block 20 provide a pair of channels 22 which extended transversely through the main switch body `16 for accommodation of the spring contact members 23 fwhich will be hereinafter Imore fully described.

One side of the centrally disposed block 20 is provided with a transversely extending circular aperture 24 of such diameter `as to receive the base `26 of a standard bayonet type lamp 2S. The centrally disposed block 2t) is also provided with a substantially rectangular aperture extending from the bottom surface of the switch body 'lid and having opposite side walls 3l), 31, 32 and 33 (as indicated in FIGURE 5). As will be especially apparent from FGURE 5, the portion of this aperture 29 adjacent side 33 does not extend entirely through the centrally disposed block Zd; and the portion of block 2li which is upwardly disposed in FIGURE 3 is provided with an extension 36 that has an inside cylindrical surface so that the base 25 of the lamp 23 rests against that surface. The circular aperture 2li is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed grooves 3S and dit for receiving the usual bayonet projections on the base 26 of bulb 2S.

A left hand and right hand spring contact 4Z and 44, respective-ly, each having a coniiguration as Shown in

FlGURES

2, 3 and 4, is secured to the base of the main switch body lo by like terminal screws 26, with conventional nuts 43 and lock washers 45, as shown in the drawings.

Referring especially to FIGURES 1 and 5, the end wall 3l. of aperture 29 in the bloc; section Ztl of base 7.6 is provided with a concave recess lo that is concentric with the lamp base aperture 24. Thus, lamp 28 is retained in the switch body lo, with its base 26 in aperture t and abutting surface 3d, and with its other end pressed into the concave depression i8 due to the spring action ot contacts 42 and against the external contact buttons 50 of the lamp 28.

Referring particularly to FlGURES l and 5, the end wall 3l of the aperture 29 and the base lo is also provided with a groove 52 as shown in these iigures. This makes it possible to easily remove the lamp 28 by inserting any pointed object into the groove 52, between lamp and housing, to force lamp 28 against the action of

spring contacts

42 and 44 and tip the lamp for removal from the aperture 29. To install a new lamp, its base 26 is simply positioned in aperture 24, with the lamp bayonet projections in

grooves

38 and 40, and the lamp is then pressed into position so that the end of the bulb is seated within the concave portion 48.

Referring especially to FIGURES l and 2, each of like spring contact members 23 mounted in the switch body channel 22 is substantially J-shaped, with its shorter leg being secured to the base of the main switch body 16 by a terminal screw 54 and nut and lock washers 56 and 53, respectively. The free end of the longer leg of each J-shaped contact 23 is provided with a movable contact button 60; and a cooperating xed contact screw 62 is mounted in the base of the main switch body 16 by means of nut and

lock washers

64 and 66, respectively.

The push button switch 1i) further comprises a cap generally indicated at 6S, which is mounted on the switch body 16 as hereinafter described, and a push button generally indicated at 70, which is reciprocably mounted within cap 68 for operating spring contacts 23, as hereinafter amplilied.

The cap 68 has a configuration which will be apparent from FIGURES 1-4, including a lower rectangular base portion 72 and an upper smaller rectangular portion 74, which is adapted to be received in the aperture of the switch mounting and cover plates 12 and 14 (as shown in FIGURE l). The corners of the lower rectangular cap section 74 may be recessed as at 76 to accommodate the heads of screws 78 which secure the switch cap 63 to the main switch body 16. The underside of switch cap 68 is also provided at each end with downwardly projecting lugs 80 which are received in corresponding rectangular recesses 82 in the top edges of end walls 13 of main switch body 16 (as shown in dotted line in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4).

The switch cap 68 has a centrally disposed circular aperture 84 extending through it to accommodate the upper cylindrical portion 86 or" the contact operating push button 70. As will be apparent especially from FIGURES 1-3, the push button has, at the lower end of cylindrical portion 86, an enlarged ange 88 which is of circular outline. The bottom of flange 88 is provided with a transversely extending groove 9i) of rectangular outline, thus forming at the lower end of push button 7i) a pair of legs 92, each of which is disposed on opposite sides of central block 20 of the main switch body 16.

Each of legs 92 is provided with a triangular projection 94, the point of which engages an intermediate part of the longer leg of the spring contact member 23 which is disposed in the same channel 22, for operation of the movable contact 60 towards the iixed contact 62. The push button flange portion 88 is provided at opposite sides with an arcuate recess 89 which receives the end of projection 80 on the underside of switch cap 68.

The upper end of aperture 84 in switch cap 63 is bevelled at 95. It will be noted that the upper part of push button cylinder 86 projects into the bevelled region 95, but that its top is below the outer surface of switch cap 68. Summary of mode of operation: The switch is installed with the

terminal screws

46, 54 and 56 wired into the control circuits as desired. To operate the switch, the cylindrical part 86 of push button 70 is depressed, thus causing the movable leg of spring Contact 23 to bend downward due to depression by the projection 94 of push button 70. This causes the movable contact 60 to engage the fixed contact screw 62 to complete the control circuit. When the operators linger is removed from the push button section 86, the spring action of the contact members 23 returns the push button unit 7i) to its position as shown in FIGURES 1-3. It will be noted that the bevel 95 permits ready access for depression of push button part 86, although the top of the latter is substantially ush with the outermost portion of the switch cap 68 and the mounting cover plate 14. The outward travel of the push button unit 68 to open switch position is limited by abutment of the top of the push button flange section 8S with the underside `of the switch cap section 72. As will be apparent, by using the J-shaped contact 223 and operating its movable leg intermediate its ends, it is possible to achieve an adequate gap between contacts 6l) and 62 but still operate the switch with a short push button stroke, while reducing the bending stress on the Contact members 23 to prolong their life.

The switch cap 63 may be made of a translucent material such as white Plexiglas, in which case the lighting of lamp 23 will cause a halo elfect in the bevelled region surrounding push button cylinder 86. The push button cylinder 36 may also be made of a translucent plastic material, such as Plexiglas, so that the button itself will light up. Alternatively, either the push button cylinder 86 of the switch cap 63 may be made of opaque material so that only the button member 86 or the bevelled portion 95 will light up.

The main switch body 16 is also made of a suitable electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic. When made of plastic, the main switch body 16, the switch housing cap portion 68, and the push button 70 may each be injection or compression molded, with a configuration such as disclosed in the drawings and described herein. Of course, if desired, such switch cornponents need not be molded as integral units, and may be made up of sub-sections secured together in any suitable manner. All contacts and terminals are, of course, made of suitable electrically conductive material.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides a new improved compact, illuminated, iiush type push button switch which achieves the objects and advantages discussed earlier in this application and is especially satisfactory for elevator installations.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A switch comprising: a housing of electrically nonconductive material, including a base portion with a section of the housing extending laterally therefrom; an electrically conductive iixed contact on the housing base portion on each side of said laterally extending section; an electrically conductive movable contact member disposed on the switch housing base portion on opposite sides of said laterally extending housing section, each of said contact members comprising a pair of legs connected by an intermediate arcuate section, one of said legs being secured to said switch housing base portion and the other of said legs being relatively elongated and biased away from but movable to engagement with said fixed contact; said switch housing including a cap portion with an aperture therein; push button means reciprocably mounted in said aperture, said push button means including a projection on each side of said housing section engaging the corresponding biased movable contact leg intermediate its ends, so that the free end portion of each of said movable contact legs engageable with its corresponding lixed contact has a greater travel than said push button means for switch operation, thereby providing adequate contact gap with small switch operating movement; an aperture in said housing section which extends laterally from said switch housing base portion, said `aperture being adapted to support the base of a lamp; an additional opening in ysaid housing base portion and said laterally extending housing section tfor accommodating the body of a lamp; at least one `spring contact member on said switch housing adjacent said aperture adapted to engage the base of a lamp in said aperture, means for aligning a lamp in said aperture in electrical engagement with said spring contact member, and a depression in the opposing wall of said additional opening in said lamp base portion, whereby the spring action of said lamp Contact causes a portion of the lamp installed in the housing to be held in said depression; said switch further comprising a recess in said opposing wall of said additional housing opening extending between the exterior of the housing and said depression, thereby permitting insertion of an object for removal of a lamp in said housing opening.

2. A switch comprising: a housing of electrically nonconductive material, including a lbase portion and a cap portion; at least one set of cooperating electrically conductive contacts on said switch housing base portion; push button means reciprocably mounted in said switch cap portion and adapted to operate said contact means; the exterior of said housing cap portion being bevelled around the external end of said push button means, with the outermost portion of said push button means being disposed between the inner and outer limits of said bevelled part of the switch housing cap portion; an aperture in said switch housing adapted to receive a base of a lamp, with an additional opening in said switch housing for accommodating the body of a lamp; at least one spring contact member on said switch housing adjacent said lamp base aperture, means for aligning va lamp in said aperture in electrical engagement with said spring contact member, and a depression in the opposing wall of said additional opening in said lamp base portion, whereby the spring action of said lamp contact causes a portion of the lamp installed in the housing to ybe held in said depression; at least one of said push button means and said bevelled cap portion of the switch housing being non-opaque lfor illumination thereof by a lamp installed in the switch housing; said switch yfurther comprising a recess in said opposing wall of said additional switch housing opening extending between the exterior of the housing and said depression, thereby permitting insertion of an object for removal of a lamp in said housing opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,273,353 Harris Feb. 17, 1942 2,689,276 Worel Sept. 14, 1954 2,802,082 Kalwo Aug. 6, 1957 2,958,752 Herman Nov, 1, 1960

Claims

2. A SWITCH COMPRISING: A HOUSING OF ELECTRICALLY NONCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, INCLUDING A BASE PORTION AND A CAP PORTION; AT LEAST ONE SET OF COOPERATING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONTACTS ON SAID SWITCH HOUSING BASE PORTION; PUSH BUTTON MEANS RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SWITCH CAP PORTION AND ADAPTED TO OPERATE SAID CONTACT MEANS; THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING CAP PORTION BEING BEVELLED AROUND THE EXTERNAL END OF SAID PUSH BUTTON MEANS, WITH THE OUTERMOST PORTION OF SAID PUSH BUTTON MEANS BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER LIMITS OF SAID BEVELLED PART OF THE SWITCH HOUSING CAP PORTION; AN APERTURE IN SAID SWITCH HOUSING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A BASE OF A LAMP, WITH AN ADDITIONAL OPENING IN SAID SWITCH HOUSING FOR ACCOMMODATING THE BODY OF A LAMP; AT LEAST ONE SPRING CONTACT MEMBER ON SAID SWITCH HOUSING ADJACENT SAID LAMP BASE APERTURE, MEANS FOR ALIGNING A LAMP IN SAID APERTURE IN ELECTRICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SPRING CONTACT MEMBER, AND A DEPRESSION IN THE OPPOSING WALL OF SAID ADDITIONAL OPENING IN SAID LAMP BASE PORTION, WHEREBY THE SPRING ACTION OF SAID LAMP CONTACT CAUSES A PORTION OF THE LAMP INSTALLED IN THE HOUSING TO BE HELD IN SAID DEPRESSION; AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PUSH BUTTON MEANS AND SAID BEVELLED CAP PORTION OF THE SWITCH HOUSING BEING NON-OPAQUE FOR ILLUMINATION THEREOF BY A LAMP INSTALLED IN THE SWITCH HOUSING; SAID SWITCH FURTHER COMPRISING A RECESS IN SAID OPPOSING WALL OF SAID ADDITIONAL SWITCH HOUSING OPENING EXTENDING BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSING AND SAID DEPRESSION, THEREBY PERMITTING INSERTION OF AN OBJECT FOR REMOVAL OF A LAMP IN SAID HOUSING OPENING.