US3335249A

US3335249A - Illuminated push button

Info

Publication number: US3335249A
Application number: US580047A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smidt Woodrow A De; Albert J Ziebell
Original assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
Current assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
Priority date: 1966-09-16
Filing date: 1966-09-16
Publication date: 1967-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-08

Description

1967 w. A. DE SMIDT ET AL 3,335,249

ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON 2 Sheets-Sheet L Filed Sept. 16, 1966 Q I I V INVENTORS WOODROW A. DE SMIDT ALBERT d. ZIEBELL g- 3, 1967 w. A. DE SMIDT ET AL 3,335,249

ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON Filed Sept. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS WOODROW A. DE SMIDT ALBERT J. ZIEBELL United States Patent 3,335,249 ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON Woodrow A. De Smidt, Whitefish Bay, and Albert J.

Ziebell, Oshkosh, Wis, assignors to Allen-Bradley Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Sept. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 580,047 10 Claims. (Cl. Nil-167) This invention pertains to an illuminated push button and more particularly to the use of an illuminated push button incorporating a transformer to supply the proper voltage to the illuminating lamp used in the push button.

The combination of a :push button and an integral illuminating source to indicate desired conditions of the circuit to be controlled have become commercially significant. The illuminating lamp to be used in such a unit usually has a maximum voltage reading which is substantially less than the voltage which is to be controlled through the switch integral to the push button.

However, it is advantageous to utilize the relatively high voltage connected to the push button switch as the voltage source for the illuminating bulb. One solution has been the use of a resistance element between the lower voltage load involved and the source voltage. By contrast, the push button of this invention utilizes what has become a more effective and efiicient approach, viz. the use of a transformer between the lower voltage illuminating bulb and the voltage controlled by the push button switch or like voltage source.

It is an object, then, of this invention to provide a compact illuminated push button incorporating a transformer; which push button is housed as a unit of minimum size requiring minimum installation space.

A further object of this invention is to provide an illuminated push button utilizing a construction which is extremely simple and therefore efiicient and effective.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an illuminated push button with a transformer, which transformer is movable so as to physically transfer the external initiating force from the point of application to the switch of the push button.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accom- .panying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the following description and the accompanying drawings are directed to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, only, and that the scope of the invention is to be found in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the push button constituting this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-section of a side view taken along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the push button in a position resulting from an external force being applied thereto.

FIGURE .3 is a partial cross-section of a side View taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 1 and similar to FIG- URE 2 but showing the push button in a normal position without an applied external force.

FIGURE 4 is a break away view showing switch detail of the push button.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

The illuminated push but-ton is shown as a unit in FIG- URE 1 and comprises basically the housing 1, actuator portion 2 and the terminal assembly 3. By applying an external force to the actuator portion 2, a switch located internally of the housing 1 is controlled. In order to transfer this motion from the actuator 2, this invention incorporates a construction which is simple and therefore inexpensive,.while at the same time providing a very compact unit of minimal size.

This construction utilizes the transformer 5 to transfer the mechanical motion. As can be seen from FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, this transformer 5 is located in the housing 1 and is movable therein. Guide means shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5 as internally molded strips 6 mate with the grooves 7 of the transformer 5 to supply the necessary guidance.

The actuator portion end 2 is best shown in the partial cross-sections of FIGURES 2 and 3. Here, the end of the housing 1 has a bushing 10 which terminates in the cylindrical portion 11 with threads of the exterior thereof. The mounting ring 9 screws on the threads of cylindrical portion 10a so that any surface upon which the push button is to be mounted can be secured between the mounting ring 9 and the housing 1 at upper, external portion of bushing It The inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical portion 10:: guides a cylindrical plunger 11 which is independent of the transformer 5 at one end but connected to the lens 12 by the internally threaded lens mounting ring 13. Thus, an external force applied to the lens 12 is transferred through the motion of the lens mounting ring 13 and the plunger 11 to the transformer 5. This contact between the plunger 11 and the transformer 5 is established through the flange 14 of the plunger 11.

Integral to the transformer 5 is the necessary connections for the illuminating lamp 20. In particular, one connector from a first terminal 26 of the transformer 5 is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 as connector 21 which leads from the terminal 26 to the base 22 for the illuminating lamp 20. A similar conductor is shown in part as 23 in FIGURES 2 and 3; and as with the conductor 21, this conductor 23 is connected to the second terminal (not shown) of the transformer 5. As will be understood, the transformerin conventional fashion-has a primary and secondary winding which are not shown in the drawings. The

conductors

21 and 23 are connected at terminals such as terminal 26 to the secondary winding of the transformer 5 so as to provide the reduced voltage necessary for the illuminating lamp 20. In between the

conductors

21 and 23, is an insulating disc 24. An O-ring 25 is located between the plunger 11 and the bushing 10 so as to provide a seal therebetween.

The plunger 11 essentially provides the stop structure necessary for limiting push button motion in either direction. When moving in an inward or a downward direction as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3, the lens mounting ring 13 which is essentially integral to the plunger 11 abuts the uppermost portion of the housing 1 at surface 27 which is a part of the cylindrical portion 10a of bushing 10. The movement of the plunger 11 in the opposite direction is limited when the flange 14 abuts the inner wall of the housing 1 at surface 28 or the lower surface of the bushing 10. Thus, it will be seen that outward or upward motion of the plunger 11 is limited in FIGURE 3 as the flange 14 of plunger 11 meets the surface 28 of the housing 1 while the downward motion of the plunger 11 is shown in FIGURE 2 to be limited as the plunger 11 through lens mounting ring 13 abuts the surface 27 of the housing 1.

The particular function or functions of the switch means integral to the push button and the accompanying on or off condition of the illuminating bulb 20 are variables. For example, the switch may not be directly connected to the transformer circuit; but rather the switch can be connected through terminals of the push button to; an external unit such as a motor while the transformer circuit can be independentlythrough terminals of the push button distinct from the switch connected terminalsconnected to sensing units of external unit. Thus, the transformer motion operates the switch of the push button but the lamp illumination is not directly dependent upon the transformer motion. Moreover, the switch of the push button can be of several types such as a single pole or double pole switch which again may or may not be directly responsive to movement of the transformer. An example of an illuminated push button of this invention which causes the illuminating bulb to respond directly with the movement of the transformer is seen when the switch is electrically connected between the transformer and the push button terminal so that'the switch position determines whether the bulb will be on or ofi'.

The particular embodiment shown in the drawings illustrates a highly successful switch means electrically conencted between the transformer primary and the push button terminal and used to handle the control of two separate circuits. This function has particular value when it is desirable to periodically and temporarily test one circuit and then return to reclose the normally closed circuit.

The switching structure is shown in its functional condition by FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, while FIGURE 4- shows more details through an exploded diagram. Circuit closing contact is made through a pivoted contact blade 32 which is shown in FIGURE 4 and has two U-shaped portions 33 upon which the pivoting motion is accomplished. These U-portions 33 pivot in the grooves 34 of the terminal assembly 3. Also, fastened to the terminal assembly 3, but in the

grooves

36 and 37, are fixed

contacts

38 and 39. As will be seen, these

fixed contacts

38 and 39 take the form of U-shaped spring members and are connected to a respective terminal 40 (e.g. 40a, 40b or 406) by the rivets 42.

The transformer has the two

terminals

45 and 46 connected to the primary windings. Terminal 45 hasCOnnected thereto a conductor 47 which reaches to the center of the transformer 5 and forms a ring. A molded locater pin 48, integral to the transformer 5, helps establish the location for the conductor 47 during manufacturing. Electrical connection between the terminal40b and the transformer terminal 45 is accomplished through the spring 50 which serves the dual purpose as a conductor and as a biasing means to bias the transformer 5 in an upward direction as shown in the FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. Electrical connection between the spring 50 and the terminal 40b is established through a rivet 51 in the terminal assembly 3. A molded ring 52 in the terminal assembly 3 helps locate the spring 50 during assemblyand isolate it electrically from the remaining portions of theswitch.

The terminal 46 of the transformer 5 is connected to the contact blade 32 by way of spring 55 which also serves a dual purpose, viz. an electrical conductor and a biasing means which encourages the adjacent end of the contact blade 32 towards the fixed contact 38 as will be further explained below. A molded electrical barrier 56 is a part of the transformer 5. The screw 58 in FIG- URE 4 illustrates the means by which terminal assembly 3 is attached to the housing 1 by means of the holes 59 located in the internally molded strips 6 of the housing 1. Push pin 60 is integral to the transformer 5 so as to abut the contact plate 32 on the side of the pivot point formed by the U-shaped portions 33 but opposite from the biasing spring 55.

In operation, the push button is moved from the position of FIGURE 3 to the position of FIGURE 2 through an external operating force. For example purposes, the terminals 40 will be connected to two external circuits with terminal 40b acting as acommon for these two circuits. The current for the first circuit will travel through terminal 40b and the rivet 51 to the spring 50, the conductor 47 and to one side of the primary of transformer 5 by way of the terminal 45. The other side of the pri-- mary of the transformer 5 is connected to the terminal 46 and then through the spring 45 to the contact blade 32. Here,.the contact blade 32 can be pivoted upon pivot point 33 to complete a circuit to either that circuit wired to terminal 40a or terminal 40c.

the lens 12 is transferred through the lens mountingring 13 to the plunger 11 and then to the transformer 5 as the flange 14 contacts the latter. With sufficient ex ternal force, the bias of spring 50 is overcome and the transformer 5, guided by the internally molded strips 6, moves in a downward or inward direction and the push .pin 60, abutting the contact blade 32 pivots this contact blade 32 so that the circuit including fixed contact 39 is closed and the circuit including fixed contact 38 is open.

As the push pin 60 pivots the contact blade 32, the smaller spring 55 is compressed so that when the condition of FIGURE 2 is reached, both the

springs

50 and 55 are in'a compressed condition. Upon removal of the externally applied force of the lens 12, these

springs

50 and 55 return the unit to the condition of FIGURE 3. That is, the spring 50 moves the transformer 5, plunger 11 and lens 12 upwardly or outwardly and the spring 55 pivots the contact blade 32 so as to open the circuit with fixed contact 39 and close the circuit with fixed contact 38.

We claim:

1. An illuminated push button comprising:

(a) a housing,

(b) a transformer movably located in said housing having two sets of terminals,

(c) a lamp bulb connected to a first of said terminal sets,

(d) guide means in said housing to guide said transformer movement,

(e) a lens at least partially enclosing said lamp bulb and mechanically connected to said transformer for movement therewith,

(f) switch means actuated by movement of said transformer,

(g) said second set of transformer terminals electrically connected to terminal means.

2. The illuminated push button of claim 1 wherein said electrical connection between said second set of transformer terminals and said terminal means includes said switch means.

3. The illuminated push button of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said switch means has atleast two separate sets of contacts which respond independently to movement of said transformer,

(b) at least part of said terminal means connected to said sets of contacts so as to permit connection of separate circuits by said push button.

4. The illuminated push button of claim 3 wherein:

(a) said sets-of contacts comprise,

(l) a pivoted contact blade,-

(2) fixed contacts connected to first and second of said terminal means and located at either side of a pivot point of said contact blade,

(b) a thirdof said terminal means electrically connected to a first of said second set of transformer terminals (0) means electrically connecting a second of said second set of transformer terminals with said contact blade to permit completion of an electrical circuit through a respective fixed contact.

5. The illuminated push button of claim 4 wherein a spring means biases said movable transformer and provides at least in part said electricalv connection to said first of said second setof transformer terminals.

6. The illuminated push button of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said housing includes a sleeve,

(b) plunger means are guided by said sleeve and me,- chanically interconnect said lens and said transformer to transfer motion therebetween,

(0) spring means bias said movable transformer.

7. The illuminated push button of claim 6 wherein said plunger abuts said housing to stop motion of said transformer.

8. The illuminated push button of claim 1 wherein said lamp bulb is an integral part of said transformer.

9. An illuminated push button comprising:

(a) a housing,

(b) a transformer movably located in said housing with a lamp bulb integral thereto at one end and electrically connected to a secondary winding therein,

(c) guide means in said housing to guide said transformer movement,

(d) a lens at least partially enclosing said lamp bulb,

(e) a sleeve in said housing concentric to said lamp bulb,

(f) a movable plunger guided by said sleeve and abutting said lens and transformer so as to transfer motion therebetween,

(8) switch means located at an end of said housing opposite from the sleeve and abutting said movable transformer for movement therewith,

(h) terminal means adjacent said housing at said switch means end and electrically connected to a primary Winding of said transformer.

10. The illuminated push button of claim 9 wherein:

(a) said electrical connection between said primary winding of said transformer and said terminal means includes said switch means,

(b) said switch is located in said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,979,593 4/1961 White 200-167 3,231,706 1/1966 Waldorf 200167 3,244,935 4/ 1966 Robbins et a1. 20067 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

20 H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ILLUMINATED PUSH BOTTON COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING, (B) A TRANSFORMER MOVABLY LOCATED IN SAID HOUSING HAVING TWO SETS OF TERMINALS, (C) A LAMP BULB CONNECTED TO A FIRST OF SAID TERMINAL SETS, (D) GUIDE MEANS IN SAID HOUSING TO GUIDE SAID TRANSFORMER MOVEMENT, (E) A LENS AT LEAST PARTIALLY ENCLOSING SAID LAMP BULB AND MECHANICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TRANSFORMER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, (F) SWITCH MEANS ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID TRANSFORMER,