US3731028A - Releasable locking mechanism for pushbutton switch with pilot-lamp assembly - Google Patents

Releasable locking mechanism for pushbutton switch with pilot-lamp assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US3731028A
US3731028A US00175102A US3731028DA US3731028A US 3731028 A US3731028 A US 3731028A US 00175102 A US00175102 A US 00175102A US 3731028D A US3731028D A US 3731028DA US 3731028 A US3731028 A US 3731028A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pushbutton
housing
rod
lamp holder
switch
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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
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US00175102A
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English (en)
Inventor
S Ando
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Azbil Corp
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Azbil Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3731028A publication Critical patent/US3731028A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/16—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
    • H01H9/161—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" comprising light emitting elements
    • H01H9/162—Means to facilitate removal or replacement of light-emitting elements
    • 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
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/14—Operating parts, e.g. push-button

Definitions

  • a four-sided pushbutton 1 projecting from the top of a housing 4 is secured to a switch actuating rod 3 [451 ay l, 1973 rotatably bracketing a flange 91 of a guide sleeve 9 for the rod in axially fixed position with reference to the holder.
  • a crosspin 33 on the rod normally engages in a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 92 of the sleeve to entrain the latter rotatorily for detaching a pair of lugs 93 at the foot of the sleeve from respective shoulders 52 in a depending neck 5 of the housing whereby, upon sufficient withdrawal of the pushbutton from the housing to enable its rotation, the lamp holder, the sleeve and the pushbutton with its rod can be bodily extracted from the housing as the cross-pin rises to the top of the slots at the level of the flange 91 to bear from below upon the upper holder plate 71.
  • a conventional pushbutton switch having a plurality of pilot lamps disposed within the housing thereof, has the drawback that aspecial tool is necessary for changing the lamps which requires considerable effort; also,
  • the switching mechanism is liable to be inadvertently actuated when the switch is remounted after the changing of a lamp.
  • the cross-pin which forms part of the rotarycoupling between the rod and the sleeve by being normally received in a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinal slots of the latter, has outwardly projecting tips engageable by blocking means in the form of a projection depending from the lamp holder to prevent rotation of the rod and sleeve whenever.
  • the pushbutton is in other than the aforedescribed partly .withdrawn position, i.e. unless the pin is received in an annular recess formed in the lamp holder around the push rod; to this end the lamp holder advantageously comprises two vertically juxtaposed and rigidly interconnected plates between which this recess is formed, eg on the upper surface of the lower plate.
  • misalignment of the lamp holder with the housingupon reinsertion is prevented by the aforementioned depending projection which confronts, upon iricorrect insertion, a boss rising within the housing. In the correct position of the lamp holder, the rising boss and the depending projection are relatively offset.
  • the push rod is provided on one side with an elongate notch engageable by detent means in the form of an arcuate spring, lodged within the lamp holder, in the proper relative angular position of the pushbutton and the lamp holder; another notch on the opposite side of the push rod, longitudinally (i.e. vertically) offset from the first one, is engageable by the detent spring in a diametrically opposite relative angular position to prevent operative insertion of the pushbutton into the housing if the cross-pin was rotated in the wrong direction within its annular recess during reanchoring of the sleeve to the housing.
  • detent means in the form of an arcuate spring
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a pushbutton switch embodying a locking mechanism according to this invention
  • FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the pushbutton assembly of the switch shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the pushbutton assembly partly lifted from the normal position thereof;
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the pushbutton lifted into the partly withdrawn position of FIG. 3 but rotated by with reference thereto;
  • FIGS. 2(A), 3(A) and 4(A) are fragmentary crosssectional views taken on lines IIA-IIA, IIIAIIIA and IVAIVA of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, respectively;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the main elements of the switch
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a plan view of a plate included in the assembly
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a guide sleeve forming part of the assembly.
  • FIGS. 8(A) and 8(3) are a bottom view and a fragmentary longitudinal section of a neck depending from the pushbutton housing;
  • FIGS. 9, 10(A), 10(8) and II are views similar to that of FIG. 3 illustrating various steps in disassembling and reassembling the switch;
  • FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on the lines XII- XII of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 13 is another sectional view illustrating the operation of the locking mechanism.
  • the pushbutton switch according to my invention comprises an actuating portion a and a switch structure b.
  • the actuating portion a includes a transparent pushbutton 1 of rectangular outline having indicator markings (not shown) on the upper surface thereof.
  • a bail-shaped handle 2 is clipped onto pushbutton l in such a manner as to be detachable therefrom transversely but not by axial motion.
  • Fixed to this handle 2 is a push rod 3 for operating the switch structure b.
  • An upwardly open prismatic housing 4 has its underside secured to a neck 5 depending therefrom, neck 5 terminating in a base 6 gripping the switch structure b.
  • a lamp holder 7 consisting of an upper plate 71 and a lower plate 72 fixed to each other (e.g. by ultrasonic welding), is removably inserted into the bottom portion of housing 4 so as to seat on lugs 41 provided within housing 4.
  • Push rod 3 is slidably guided through a keyhole 72b, formed in the lower plate 72, and has an elongate notch 31 at one side engaged by an arcuate detent spring 74 which is fitted into an undercut 71a provided in the bottom surface of upper plate 71.
  • a return spring 32 is inserted between the upper surface of plate 71 and the bottom surface of handle 2.
  • Each of four pilot lamps 8 is removably fitted from below into a respective socket 73 of lamp holder 7, the bottom of each pilot lamp abutting one of several terminal strips 42 (only two shown) provided on the bottom of housing 4.
  • a guide sleeve 9, into which push rod 3 is slidably inserted, is formed at its top with a flange 91 received in an annular recess 72a on the upper surface of lower plate 72, sleeve 9 being thus axially fixed with reference to lamp holder 7.
  • a pair of longitudinal slots 92 are formed in sleeve 9, except for the lower portion thereof, and are slidably engaged by a cross-pin 33 which is fixed to push rod 3 and passes diametrically therethrough below notch 31.
  • Sleeve 9 is slidably guided in neck 5 and is provided at its foot with a pair of lugs 93 designed to clear a keyhole 51 and engage a corresponding pair of recessed shoulders 52 on the underside of neck 5 whereby lamp holder 7 is securely anchored to housing 4.
  • Push rod 3 is furthermore provided with another notch 34 below notch 31 and diametrically opposite thereto, whereby the correct angular orientation of pushbutton 1 with reference to lamp holder 7 can be unequivocally determined as more fully described hereinafter.
  • spring 74 must first be cammed out of the downwardly beveled notch 31 by lifting the pushbutton 1 into a partly withdrawn position as shown in FIG. 3. If pushbutton 1 is then turned counterclockwise by 90, push rod 3 is rotated therewith as shown in FIG.
  • lamp holder 7 may be reinserted into housing 4 with all other parts reoccupying their original position; if pushbutton 1 is thereafter depressed, the relationship shown in FIG. 4 will be attained. In this condition, cross-pin 33 does not properly line up with keyhole 72b so that the downward movement of push rod 3 will be prevented. If pushbutton 1 is turned clockwise by to rotate push rod 3 before being depressed, pin 33 will pass through keyhole 72b and sleeve 9 will also be turned to re-engage its retaining lugs 93, which have passed through keyhole 51, with shoulders 52 to prevent a withdrawal of sleeve 9 from keyhole 51 whereby lamp holder 7 will be held seated on lugs 41 by means of flange 91.
  • push rod 3 will be lowered to make arcuate spring 74 enter the notch 31 so as to prevent a withdrawal of the rod unless an external force is applied thereto, thereby restoring the working condition shown in FIG. 2.
  • the downward pressure necessary for this re-engagement is very slight, there will be no danger of untimely actuation of the switching mechanism b.
  • Additional means insuring correct reassembly include a boss or projection 43 rising from the bottom of housing 4, and another projection 72d depending from the underside of lower plate 72 between the slots of keyhole 72b.
  • the two projections 43 and 72d are relatively offset by about the axis of rod 3 and neck 5 (see FIG. 12); if, however, lamp holder 7 were inserted into housing 4 in a position reversed with reference to its normal orientation, the two projections would buck each other so that lamp holder 7 could not be inserted any further into housing 4 so that terminal strips 42 would not reach the pilot lamps 8.
  • projection 72d permits push rod 3 to rotate with respect to lamp holder 7 only when cross-pin 33 is situated within recess 72a in lower plate 72.
  • pushbutton 1 might be rotated counterclockwise by 90 (FIG. 9) without having been sufficiently lifted to let the pin 33 pass through keyhole 72b into contact with the underside of upper plate 71 within recess 72a, whereby a subsequent upward pull as shown in FIG. (A) would bring the pin 33 up against the underside of lower plate 72 as shown in FIG. 10 (B). In this case the lamp holder 7 would be slidable with respect to push rod 3 between cross-pin 33 and handle 2.
  • a pushbutton switch comprising:
  • a pushbutton slidably held in said housing and projecting from one end thereof;
  • switch means secured to said housing at the opposite end thereof;
  • coupling means normally interconnecting said rod and said guide member for joint rotation, said guide member being provided with anchor means normally locking same to said housing, said anchor means being releasable upon rotation of said guide member through a predetermined angle relative to said housing, said coupling means including a transverse formation on said rod positively engageable with said lamp holder in a partly withdrawn position of said pushbutton and said rod for enabling axial extraction of said pushbutton, rod, guide member and lamp holder from said housing as a unit and subsequent reinsertion of said unit into said housing;
  • blocking means on said lamp holder engageable with said formation for preventing rotation of said guide member and rod in a position other than said partly withdrawn position, thereby inhibiting the release of said anchor means until said formation positively engages said lamp holder.
  • said lamp holder comprises a first plate confronting said one end and a second plate confronting said opposite end, said plates being fixedly interconnected and forming between them an annular recess around said rod communicating with said slots, said cross-pin being rotatable in said recess upon removal of said pushbutton to said partly withdrawn position.
  • a pushbutton switch as defined in claim 6 wherein said detent means comprises an arcuate spring received in an undercut of said first plate adjacent said recess.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US00175102A 1971-03-31 1971-09-26 Releasable locking mechanism for pushbutton switch with pilot-lamp assembly Expired - Lifetime US3731028A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1971023077U JPS5326620Y2 (en, 2012) 1971-03-31 1971-03-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3731028A true US3731028A (en) 1973-05-01

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ID=27878959

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00175102A Expired - Lifetime US3731028A (en) 1971-03-31 1971-09-26 Releasable locking mechanism for pushbutton switch with pilot-lamp assembly

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US (1) US3731028A (en, 2012)
JP (1) JPS5326620Y2 (en, 2012)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5310289U (en, 2012) * 1976-07-09 1978-01-27
DE2701046A1 (de) * 1977-01-12 1978-07-13 Schweitzer Ag H E Drucktastenschalter oder drucktaster
US4242544A (en) * 1977-01-12 1980-12-30 H. E. Schweitzer Ag Multiple-switch arrangement
US4242545A (en) * 1977-01-12 1980-12-30 H. E. Schweitzer Ag Mechanical switch
US4301344A (en) * 1978-12-09 1981-11-17 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Illuminated pushbutton switch

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5046461U (en, 2012) * 1973-08-23 1975-05-09
JPS50156372U (en, 2012) * 1974-06-10 1975-12-24

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3511954A (en) * 1968-01-25 1970-05-12 Robertshaw Controls Co Pushbutton assembly means,casing,and locking means
US3528099A (en) * 1968-01-25 1970-09-08 Robertshaw Controls Co Locking and release means in a switch assembly
US3602678A (en) * 1970-03-23 1971-08-31 Robertshaw Controls Co Illuminated pushbutton switch construction means having a safety set and reset mechanism

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3511954A (en) * 1968-01-25 1970-05-12 Robertshaw Controls Co Pushbutton assembly means,casing,and locking means
US3528099A (en) * 1968-01-25 1970-09-08 Robertshaw Controls Co Locking and release means in a switch assembly
US3602678A (en) * 1970-03-23 1971-08-31 Robertshaw Controls Co Illuminated pushbutton switch construction means having a safety set and reset mechanism

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5310289U (en, 2012) * 1976-07-09 1978-01-27
DE2701046A1 (de) * 1977-01-12 1978-07-13 Schweitzer Ag H E Drucktastenschalter oder drucktaster
US4242544A (en) * 1977-01-12 1980-12-30 H. E. Schweitzer Ag Multiple-switch arrangement
US4242545A (en) * 1977-01-12 1980-12-30 H. E. Schweitzer Ag Mechanical switch
US4301344A (en) * 1978-12-09 1981-11-17 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Illuminated pushbutton switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5326620Y2 (en, 2012) 1978-07-06
JPS4718060U (en, 2012) 1972-10-31

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