US3644694A

US3644694A - Pushbutton controlling device

Info

Publication number: US3644694A
Application number: US31636A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jean Morin; Gerard Desperrier
Original assignee: Societe dAppareillage Electrique SAPAREL SA
Current assignee: Societe dAppareillage Electrique SAPAREL SA
Priority date: 1969-04-30
Filing date: 1970-04-24
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22
Also published as: NL7006159A; DE2020084A1; AT303174B; ES186036Y; BE749169A; FR2041608A5; ES186036U; GB1260088A

Abstract

A pushbutton controlling device having two states obtained by manipulation of the single pushbutton comprises, at its end, a transparent window and has a hollow part closed at its base by an inner part and carries an indicating part comprising two zoned reference marks corresponding to the starting and stopping of the device. The pushbutton is used for controlling electrical cutout devices, and also for controlling mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic elements.

Description

United States Patent Morin et a1.

[54] PUSI-IBUTTON CONTROLLING DEVICE [72] lnventors: Jean Morin; Gerard Desperrler, both of Saint-Marcellin, France [73] Assignee: Societe dAppareillage Electrlque Saparel, Saint-Marcellin, France [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 31,636

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 30, 1969 France ..69l3937 [52] US. CL ..200/167 R [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 9/16 [58] FieldofSearch ..200/167 R, 167 A, 172 R, 172A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 3,377,451 4/1968 Kreuter "200/ 167 R 1 Feb. 22, 1972 3,538,28511/1970 Or1s.... ..200/l67R 3,217,129 11/1965 I-Iufnagel ....200/l67R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,087,225 8/1960 Germany ..200/ 167 R Primary Examiner1'1. 0. Jones Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn 8: Macpeak [57] 1 ABSTRACT A pushbutton controlling device having two states obtained by manipulation of the single pushbutton comprises, at its end, a transparent window and has a hollow part closed at its base by an inner part and carries an indicating part comprising two zoned reference marks corresponding to the starting and stopping of the device. The pushbutton is used for controlling electrical cutout devices, and also for controlling mechanical, pneumatic orhydraulic elements.

4 2 Drawing Figures PUSHBUTTON CONTROLLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention concerns pushbuttons for use more particularly in controlling electrical cutout devices such as switches or circuit breakers. They may, however, equally be used for controlling any sort of mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, devices controlled by pushbuttons comprise two such buttons: one controlling the starting of the device and the other, the stopping of the device. Naturally, these two buttons. must bear different conventional reference marks, so that the operator can distinguish them from each other, so as to avoid all faulty operation.

In general, regulations require that the pushbutton controlling the starting be colored green and bear the reference mark I, and that the pushbutton controlling the stopping be colored red and bear the reference mark 0.

There exist, however, certain devices which comprise only one pushbutton for starting and stopping. In this case, the above conditions are no longer fulfilled, since nothing in the appearance of the button shows the operator if the operation he is to effect by pushing the button will start or stop the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a pushbutton having two positions which does not have the disadvantage enumerated above. It is characterized in that the body of the pushbutton comprises, at least at its extremity, a transparent window, and is fitted with a central hollow part in which an indicator part is mounted with a certain clearance. The indicator part comprises two zones bearing, respectively, reference marks corresponding to the starting state and the stopping state of the controlled device. The part is actuated by the movement of the pushbutton and is arranged so as to be subjected consequently, to a movement which makes it pass under the transparent window, so that it allows only one of the said reference mark zones to be visible in this window according to the position of the pushbutton.

Two possible embodiments of the pushbutton according to the invention, in one of which the reference mark part is a drum which under the effect of the movement of the button, undergoes a rotating motion, whereas in the other, the reference mark part is a curved tape whose curved zone advances and progresses step by step along the said tape under the effect of the movement of the button, will be described below by way of nonlimiting example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view, partially in section of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, the first variation, wherein the body of the pushbutton, shown in a partial sectional view, is designated by 1. It is made preferably of synthetic material, and can be completely or partially transparent. It is essential that it should comprise, at its upper part, a window 2 carrying a transversal and semicylindrical groove, in which a drum 3 to be seen is inserted with a certain clearance.

Preferably, for structural reasons, the body of the pushbutton is open at its lower part, and a part 4, whose upper part, in the shape of a cylindrical cradle, forms a support for the drum 3, is open, is inserted through this opening, this part being fixed to the body 1 by any means.

On the other hand on one of the bases of the drum 3, the bent end 5 of a rigid rod 6 is articulated and passes into a cavity between the part 4 and the wall of the body 1, so as not to project from the side of the latter, the other end of this rod being connected to a fixed point, not shown, on the device to be controlled.

The pushbutton assembly thus formed is fixed, for example by means of studs suchas 7, to a bar 8 coupled to the mobile elements of the device to be controlled.

The periphery of the drum 3 is divided into two

zones

9 and 10, separated by a generatrix of the said drum, and bearing respectively information relating to the starting position and to the stopping position. For example, zone 9 shown on the drawing as a shaded part may be colored red, whereas zone 10 shown on the drawing as a cross ruled part may be colored green.

The operation of this device will now be explained.

In FIG. 1, the pushbutton is shown in the high position, corresponding to the starting state of the device to be controlled, and it is then that the green zone 10 appears in the window 2, showing that the operation of the pushbutton will cause the stopping of the device.

If the button is actually pushed, it recedes downwards, causing the required stopping, but as the rod 6 is fixed, its end 5, engaged in the drum 3, forces the latter to turn, and the

zones

9 and 10 are arranged in such a way that it is then the red zone 9 which appears in the window 2, thus showing the operator.

that the device is in the stopping state and that another operation of the button will cause its starting.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the rotation of the drum is limited to a maximum of one-half turn, as can easily be seen in the figure.

Therefore, the movement of the button cannot be greater than the diameter of the drum, and consequently, the use of this embodiment is limited to devices in which the movement of the parts to be controlled is relatively slight.

The second embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, is not subject to this limitation.

This embodiment comprises, like the preceding, a body I completely or partially transparent, fitted with a window 2 and having a U-shaped hollow part. In this body is fixed an inner recess including a semicylindrical portion facing window 2 l l which matches the profile of the hollow part in the body I leaving between it and the latter a slight gap in which a flexible tape 12 can slide. One end of this tape is fastened to a fixed part 13 and its other end is free in the gap between parts 1 and 1 l.

The set of

parts

1 and 11 is fixed by any known means, such as studs 7, to the bar 8 connected to the elements which are to be controlled.

The flexible tape is divided along its length into two

zones

15 and 14 bearing respectively reference marks corresponding to the stopping and starting of the device. For example, the zone 15 illustrated in the figure by a cross ruled part may be green.

The pushbutton is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the high position corresponding to the stopping state of the device to be controlled, it is then the green zone 15 of the tape 12 which appears in the window 2, showing the operator that operation of the button will cause the starting of the device.

The tape 12 must be sufficiently flexible to be able to follow the curve of the

parts

1 and 11, and yet sufficiently resistant. Thin metal tape is suitable for the purpose, but some kinds of synthetic material may also be used.

It is specified that, in both of the embodiments described above, the reference marks on the indicator element (drum or tape) can be any conventional reference marks and can be applied on the indicator element in any known way.

Also, in both of these embodiments, the window 2 can be constructed so as to have a magnifying effect.

The invention is not limited to the two embodiments which have been described and illustrated by way of example, but it comprises all possible variations complying with the definition given in claim 1.

We claim:

1. A pushbutton for controlling an apparatus involving at least two control states comprising:

a fixed support,

a body depressable relative to said fixed support from a first position corresponding to a first state to a second position corresponding to a second state,

a transparent window carried by said pushbutton body,

a semicylindrical recess within said pushbutton body facing said window,

an indicator positioned within said recess having a corresponding semicircular surface portion facing said window and movable about the axis of said recess, carrying reference zones corresponding to said control states,

and means operatively coupling said movable indicator to said fixed support and responsive to depression of said pushbutton body to a second position for moving said movable indicator to expose reference zones indicative of said control states.

2. The pushbutton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable indicator comprises a revolving drum carrying reference zones on its periphery and wherein said means operatively coupling said movable indicator to said fixed support comprises a lever coupled at one end to said fixed support and at the other end to an eccentric position on said revolving drum.

3. The pushbutton as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable indicator comprises a flexible strip fixed at one end to said support, with the free end thereof extending within and in contact with the recess within said pushbutton body, said strip being divided transversely into longitudinal zones corresponding to said control state, whereby said flexible strip is subjected to a sliding movement upon depression or extension of said pushbutton body.

4. The pushbutton as claimed in claim 3, wherein said strip is a thin metal one.

Claims

1. A pushbutton for controlling an apparatus involving at least two control states comprising: a fixed support, a body depressable relative to said fixed support from a first position corresponding to a first state to a second position corresponding to a second state, a transparent window carried by said pushbutton body, a semicylindrical recess within said pushbutton body facing said window, an indicator positioned within said recess having a corresponding semicircular surface portion facing said window and movable about the axis of said recess, carrying reference zones corresponding to said control states, and means operatively coupling said movable indicator to said fixed support and responsive to depression of said pushbutton body to a second position for moving said movable indicator to expose reference zones indicative of said control states.