US3697713A - Alternate action mechanism with driving member movable out of engagement with latching channel in unlatched position - Google Patents

Alternate action mechanism with driving member movable out of engagement with latching channel in unlatched position Download PDF

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Publication number
US3697713A
US3697713A US191327A US3697713DA US3697713A US 3697713 A US3697713 A US 3697713A US 191327 A US191327 A US 191327A US 3697713D A US3697713D A US 3697713DA US 3697713 A US3697713 A US 3697713A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
driving member
push rod
channel
pushbutton switch
recess
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US191327A
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English (en)
Inventor
Masao Ohkita
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Alps Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alps Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Alps Electric Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3697713A publication Critical patent/US3697713A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
    • H01H13/56—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force
    • H01H13/562—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force making use of a heart shaped cam
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/18888—Reciprocating to or from oscillating

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A pushbutton switch of the type actuated by a pushpush motion of a control member is provided with a compact miniaturized structure having means to facilitate smooth operation with a minimum of frictional resistance and at the same time to provide a sharp and reliable switching action.
  • the switch body is provided with a generally heart-shaped channel adapted to receive the upstanding end of a driving member which in turn is carried by a push rod slidable into and out of the switch body between its two operative positions.
  • the channel is stepped to provide positive snap action switching and means are provided to impart a seesaw motion to the driving member, thereby to move the upstanding end thereof into positive camming engagement with the stepped upper surface of the channel, yet to maintain that upstanding end spaced from the upper surface of the channel over a substantial portion of its operating path.
  • Means are provided on the switch body for engaging the driving member first on one side and then at the other side of the pivotal support projection thereby to bias the upstanding end of the driving member into and out of engagement with the stepped channel surface as the push rod is moved between its two operative positions.
  • This invention relates to a pushbutton switch and more particularly to a switch of the type actuated by a push-push motion of a control member.
  • a first push on the control button is effective to cause the push rod to move from an outer to an inner position and to remain in that position until the button is again pushed, whereupon the push rod will be released from its inner position and returned to its outer position.
  • the push rod of the switch is provided with a substantially heart shaped channel and a cooperating driving member counted on the switch housing is received within said channel.
  • the heart-shape of the channel defines two stable positions for the driving member, that member being spring biased into one of those two stable positions upon actuation of the push rod.
  • the channel is typically provided with one or more steps on its bottom surface and the driving member is spring urged into camming detent engagement with that channel surface.
  • this design has three rather'major drawbacks.
  • the driving member typically extends above the body of the switch, thereby causing the switch to occupy a larger space than desired.
  • Third, and perhaps most importantly, the action of the camming spring causes maximal frictional engagement between the push rod and the channel surface, thereby severely restricting smooth operation. Indeed, this design often causes a severe biting action between the driving member and the channel surface which in turn results in operational failure of the device.
  • That switch is relatively compact, provides only a minimum of frictional resistance to actua tion and utilizes an unweakened switch housing.
  • that switch design while admittedly eliminating the aforementioned problems, itself has been found somewhat unsatisfactory, particularly as regards reliability of operation.
  • the desirable sharp switching action and resulting feel are absent.
  • the free end 'of driving member must traverse a rather serpentine path within the channel to move from one of its stable positions at the point of the heart to the other at the cleavage in response to a unidirectional push on the control button.
  • That free end must be steered by the outer wall of the channel beyond the edge of the inner wall prior to release of the pushbutton if the switch is to be effectively locked in that other position. Premature release of the pushbutton or a slight reverse swinging motion of the driving pin upon release of the button will result in a snapback to the original switch position. As a result rapid or careless actuation of the pushbutton is often ineffectual to provide the desired switching action.
  • the switch of the present invention comprises a housing with an essentially heart-shaped channelon an inner surface of a wall thereof in opposing relationship to the upper surface of the push rod, that channel being suitably stepped to provide sharp camming switch action.
  • the upper surface of the push rod is provided with a fan-shaped recess within which a driving member is received.
  • That driving member is preferably in the form of an elongated Z-shaped pin having a downtumed portion at one end pivotally received in an opening in the push rod and an upturned portion at its other end received in the housing channel.
  • the fan-shaped recess in the push rod is provided with an elongated projection extending transversely thereacross to provide a pivotal support for the elongated portion of the drive pin.
  • Means are provided on the housing to resiliently bias the drive pin towards the push rod, that bias means cooperating with the aforementioned pivot support projection to impart a seesaw motion to the drive pin upon movement of the push rod between its two operative positions.
  • the upturned end of the drive pin is normally biased out of engagement with the top wall of the channel in the outer position of the push rod but is pivoted into engagement therewith as it approaches the stepped portion thereof to provide the desired camming action for switching to the inner position of the push rod.
  • a second camming operation is effective to unlock the drive pin from its inner position whereupon the push rod commences its return to the outer position. That return is facilitated by seesaw motion of the drive pin which is effective to moveits upturned portion out of contact with the upper wall of the channel at the beginning of such return movement, thereby to substantially eliminate frictional resistance.
  • an additional support projection is provided at the wide end of the fan-shaped recess, that projection being provided with inclined surfaces adapted to cooperate with the resilient bias means to ensure the desired seesaw motion of the drive pin.
  • the pivotal support projection on the push rod is replaced by a similarly located, op-
  • the present invention relates to a pushbutton switch of the push-push type as defined in the appended claims and as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of a pushbutton switch in accordance with the present invention, showing the push rod in its outer position;
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the push rod and driving member of FIG. 1 showing the pivotal support projection;
  • FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3A showing the push rod in its inner position with the drive pin pivoted into engagement with the top wall of the heart-shaped channel;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper wall of the switch housing illustrated in an inverted position and showing the heart-shaped channel;
  • FIG. 5A is a schematic illustration in plan view of the heart-shaped channel showing the path traversed by the upstanding end of the driving member;
  • FIG. 5B is a schematic representation in section of the channel profile illustrating the camming steps
  • FIG. 6A is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of a pushbutton switch in accordance with present invention.
  • FIG. 6B is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the switch housing and biasing spring of the embodiment of FIG. 6A.
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the push rod and driving member of still another embodiment of the invention. 7
  • FIG. 1 A first embodiment of my pushbutton is shown in perspective in FIG. 1. As there illustrated it comprises the conventional hollow housing or switch body 10 within which approximate fixed and movable switch contacts are mounted. (Those switch contacts form no part of the present invention and hence are not specifically disclosed.)
  • the body 10 is provided with an opening 12 through which a push rod generally designated 14 extends.
  • Push rod 14 is made of a suitable insulating material and is adapted to slide into and out of aperture 12 in the switch body, thereby to engage the appropriate switch contacts within.
  • the push rod 14 is adapted to be moved to two operative positions and is normally biased to its outer position shown in.
  • FIG. 1 A first embodiment of my pushbutton is shown in perspective in FIG. 1.
  • the conventional hollow housing or switch body 10 within which approximate fixed and movable switch contacts are mounted. (Those switch contacts form no part of the present invention and hence are not specifically disclosed.)
  • the body 10 is provided with an opening 12 through which a push rod generally designated 14 extends.
  • Push rod 14 is made of a suitable
  • a second groove 22 may be provided on push rod 14 outwardly of flange 18 for mounting a suitable pushbutton on the free end 24 of the push rod.
  • the switch body 10 is provided with a generally heart-shaped channel 26 in the undersurface of its top wall 28, that channel facing the upper surface 30 of the push rod 14.
  • a generally fan-shaped recess 32 is formed in that upper surface and carries a driving member generally designated 34.
  • Driving member 34 is preferably in the form of a Z-shaped pin having an elongated bodyportion 34a, an upwardly directed portion 34b at one end and a downwardly directed portion 346 at its other end (see FIG. 2).
  • the downwardly directed portion 34c is received in a circular notch 36 and the upstanding portion 34b (hereinafter referred to as the drive pin) is received in the channel 26 in the switch housing.
  • the driving member 34 is thus adapted to move longitudinally with the push rod and to swing laterally within the fan-shaped recess 32 about the axis of the downwardly directed end 340.
  • the switch is substantially identical to that disclosed in my aforementioned copending application, Ser. No. 24,656.
  • the driving member was supported directly on the flat surface of the fan-shaped recess and means were provided for biasing the upstanding end of that member out of direct engagement with the upper wall of the housing channel.
  • the upstanding end of the driving member was guided by the side walls of the housing channel from one to the other of its stable positions, without any frictional engagement between the driving member and the upper surface of the channel.
  • the absence of detent stepping or positive snap action rendered the switch liable to faulty operation because of the lack of any positive feel on the part of the operator.
  • the channel 26 is stepped to provide positive snap action switching and means are provided to impart a seesaw motion to the driving member 34, thereby to move the drive pin 34b of the driving member 34 into positive camming engagement with the stepped upper surface of channel 26, yet to maintain that pin spaced from the upper surface of that channel over a substantial portion of its operating path.
  • seesaw motion imparting means comprises a generally rounded projection 38 formed on the surface of recess 32 and extending laterally thereacross.
  • the main body portion 34a of driving member 34 is pivotally supported on that projection and is thus adapted to perform a seesaw movement between two operative positions, shown respectively in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
  • a leaf spring 40 is mounted on the end of the switch body from which the push rod extends and extends downwardly into engagement with the elongated body 34a of the driving member 34.
  • spring is preferably in the shape of a reversed S, one end of which is hookingly received in an L-shaped slot 42 in the upper wall 28 of the switch body and maintained therein by the compression spring 16.
  • the angular position of the driving member 34 in a vertical plane depends upon its point of engagement with the leaf spring 40 relative to the projection 38 defining its pivotal support.
  • the projection 38 is so located that it passes from one side to the other of spring 40 as the push rod is moved between its two operative positions.
  • the heart-shaped channel 26 provides two V- shaped receptacles 26a and 26b at the point and cleavage, respectively, which define the two stable positions of the drive pin 34b of driving member 34.
  • the upper surface of the channel (viewed as the lower surface in FIGS. 4 and 5A) is provided with a first step 44 on one side of cleavage 26b comprising an inclined surface 44a extending in a direction away from the point 26a and terminating in a sharp edge 44b and a second step 46 comprising an inclined surface 46a extending from the cleavage area 26b and terminating in a sharp edge 46b.
  • the path of the drive pin 34b of the driving member is shown schematically in FIG.
  • Projection 50 is generally trapezoidal in shape and comprises a generally horizontal surface 50a and inclined surfaces 50b. As best shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, those surfaces underlie the upstanding end 34b of driving member 34 and insure proper operation in the event leaf spring 40 loses resiliency or even fails.
  • the embodiment there illustrated is provided with an improved leaf spring design which provides extremely reliable operation.
  • the leaf spring 40 is provided with a pair of generally horizontal fingers 40a adapted to be received in grooves 52 in the undersurface of the switch body 10, a pair of arms 40b engaging the end of the switch body, and an outwardly extending cupping finger 40c adapted to engage one end of the coil spring 16.
  • the leaf spring may pivot slightly about the axis 54 and compression of coil spring 16 tends to urge the lead spring 40 downwardly into engagement with driving member 34.
  • the leaf spring 40 may be constructed of a rather stiff material, proper operation thereby being insured over the lifetime of the device.
  • assembly and disassembly of the device is facilitated by this construction.
  • pivot means for driving member 34 is shown in FIG. 2 as a rounded projection 38 on the push rod 14, many other arrangements are of course possible.
  • One such alternative is illustrated in FIG. 7 in which the bottom surface of the fan-shaped recess 32 is smooth and the Z-shaped driving member 34 is itself provided with a rounded projection 56 on its underside, that projection 56 engaging the bottom surface of recess32 to provide the required pivot action.
  • projection 56 is formed integral with driving member 34 merely by crimping that member at an appropriate location along its main body portion 34a.
  • a pushbutton switch of the pushpush type which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, more reliable in operation, and provides desirable operating characteristics.
  • the pushbutton switch herein described combines the desirable snap action of prior art devices with a generally smooth friction-free operation.
  • a pushbutton switch comprising a body with a surface, a channel in said surface, said channel having side walls and a bottom wall, a push rod movable relative to said surface in a given direction between first and second operative positions, a driving member carried by said push rod and having a part received in said channel, detent means on said bottom wall of said channel, and means active'on said driving member to urge said part toward said bottom wall of said channel and into engagement .
  • said detent means during a first portion of the travel of said part along said channel as it traverses said detent means and to urge said part out of engagement with said bottom wall of said channel during a second portion of its travel along said channel.
  • said seesaw motion imparting means comprises means pivotally mounting said driving member for rotation about an axis substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said push rod and biasing means on said switch body engaging said driving member first at one side and then at the other side of said pivot axis as said push rod moves between its first and second operative positions.
  • said detent means comprises first and second step means on either side of one of said stable positions of said part, said first step means being traversed by said part as it moves from one to the other of said stable positions and effective to prevent snapback of said part to said one stable position, said second step means being traversed as said part moves from said other stable position to said one stable position and effective to prevent snapback of said part to said other stable position.
  • said seesaw motion imparting means comprises means pivotally mounting said driving member for rotation about an axis substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said push rod and biasing means on said switch body engaging said driving member first at one side and then at the other side of said pivot axis as said push rod moves between its first and second operative positions.
  • said seesaw motion imparting means comprises means pivotally mounting said driving member for rotation about an axis substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said push rod and biasing means on said switch body engaging said driving member first at one side and then at the other side of said pivot axis as said push rod moves between its first and second operative positions.
  • the pushbutton switch of claim 4 further com prising means urging said push rod in said given direction to one of said first or second positions, said push rod urging means operatively engaging said biasing means and being effective to urge said biasing means against said driving member as said push rod is moved to the other of said first or second positions.
  • said detent means comprises first and second step means on either side of one of said stable positions of said part, said first step means being traversed by said part as it moves from one to the other of said stable positions and effective to prevent snapback of said part to said one stable position, said second step means being traversed as said part moves from said other stable position to said one stable position and effective to prevent snapback of said part to said other stable position.

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US191327A 1971-03-27 1971-10-21 Alternate action mechanism with driving member movable out of engagement with latching channel in unlatched position Expired - Lifetime US3697713A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46018269A JPS5211424B1 (fr) 1971-03-27 1971-03-27

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5037072U (fr) * 1973-07-31 1975-04-18
US3962556A (en) * 1975-01-10 1976-06-08 Texas Instruments Incorporated Keyboard with versatile switch support structures
US4112277A (en) * 1975-08-29 1978-09-05 Tschudin & Heid Ag Push-button switch units
US4160143A (en) * 1977-05-20 1979-07-03 Petrick Gmbh Elektro-Mechanische Bauelemente Slide key
US4218598A (en) * 1975-03-04 1980-08-19 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Switch-latching mechanism
US4916277A (en) * 1988-09-29 1990-04-10 Honeywell Inc. Alternate action mechanism
EP0721196A1 (fr) * 1995-01-06 1996-07-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Interrupteur à touche verrouillable
US5539169A (en) * 1993-12-31 1996-07-23 Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha Locking mechanism for push-push switch
US20090026403A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Difeng Cen Switch for kitchen & bath appliances
US20090025813A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Difeng Cen Water diverting device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1941252A (en) * 1932-07-07 1933-12-26 Harry A Douglas Electric switch
US2978555A (en) * 1959-01-12 1961-04-04 Switchlock Inc Electric switch
DE1295048B (de) * 1965-10-22 1969-05-14 Markworth Gmbh Drucktasten-Schaltvorrichtung, insbesondere fuer Nachrichtengeraete
GB1164260A (en) * 1968-08-30 1969-09-17 Electronic Components Ltd Improvements in or relating to Push Button Mechanisms.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1941252A (en) * 1932-07-07 1933-12-26 Harry A Douglas Electric switch
US2978555A (en) * 1959-01-12 1961-04-04 Switchlock Inc Electric switch
DE1295048B (de) * 1965-10-22 1969-05-14 Markworth Gmbh Drucktasten-Schaltvorrichtung, insbesondere fuer Nachrichtengeraete
GB1164260A (en) * 1968-08-30 1969-09-17 Electronic Components Ltd Improvements in or relating to Push Button Mechanisms.

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5037072U (fr) * 1973-07-31 1975-04-18
US3962556A (en) * 1975-01-10 1976-06-08 Texas Instruments Incorporated Keyboard with versatile switch support structures
US4218598A (en) * 1975-03-04 1980-08-19 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Switch-latching mechanism
US4112277A (en) * 1975-08-29 1978-09-05 Tschudin & Heid Ag Push-button switch units
US4160143A (en) * 1977-05-20 1979-07-03 Petrick Gmbh Elektro-Mechanische Bauelemente Slide key
US4916277A (en) * 1988-09-29 1990-04-10 Honeywell Inc. Alternate action mechanism
US5539169A (en) * 1993-12-31 1996-07-23 Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha Locking mechanism for push-push switch
EP0721196A1 (fr) * 1995-01-06 1996-07-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho Interrupteur à touche verrouillable
US5670762A (en) * 1995-01-06 1997-09-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Push lock switch with dual function self-biasing slider contact
US20090026403A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Difeng Cen Switch for kitchen & bath appliances
US20090025813A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Difeng Cen Water diverting device
US8403297B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2013-03-26 Ningbo Bosheng Plumbing Co., Ltd. Switch for kitchen and bath appliances
US8418720B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2013-04-16 Ningbo Bosheng Plumbing Co., Ltd. Water diverting device

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Publication number Publication date
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