US3810052A - Push button switch - Google Patents

Push button switch Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3810052A
US3810052A US00322247A US32224773A US3810052A US 3810052 A US3810052 A US 3810052A US 00322247 A US00322247 A US 00322247A US 32224773 A US32224773 A US 32224773A US 3810052 A US3810052 A US 3810052A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
lever
frame
switch
case
push button
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
US00322247A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
M Yanaga
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 US3810052A publication Critical patent/US3810052A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • H01H36/0006—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches
    • H01H36/004—Permanent magnet actuating reed switches push-button-operated, e.g. for keyboards

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A rectangular case supports a spring biased reciprocating lever of rectangular, block form by engagement of its ends with opposed parallel guide grooves within the sidewalls of the case, the width of the sidewalls at the groove contact area and respective grooves being different for orientation of the lever.
  • Plural reed switches are mounted within a recessed portion of a rectangular protecting frame with a hole Within the bottom of the frame receiving one reed switch lead and the lead captured within the groove at the rear of the frame.
  • Frame pits of corresponding size, defined by strips projecting inwardly from the sidewalls of the case receive the frames.
  • Cylindrical cavities within the lever and flexible stops on opposed sides at the top and bottom of the cavity openings permit insertion and retention of cylindrical permanent magnets within the lever.
  • This invention relates to a push button switch, and more particularly to such a switch for use in various electronic computer input devices.
  • a rectangular hollow case having opposed grooves within opposite sidewalls opening up interiorly and supporting a rectangular block-like reed switch operating lever therebetween for reciprocation therein and wherein one groove and matching side of the block are of a different width from that of the opposite side of the block, thus orienting the lever relative to the case.
  • the bottom of thecase is-open permitting further insertion of reed switch assembly in terms-of a rectangular frame supporting each reed switch and maintained in position within the case by internal projections on the case sidewall defining pits which are rectangular in cross section of a size and configuration comparable to the reed switch frame at diagonally opposed corners within the case.
  • Each frame is L-shaped in elevation formed by a recessed portion receiving the reed switch with one reed switch terminal passing through a hole in axial alignment with the reed switch and within the base of the L-shaped frame.
  • the leg of the L-shaped frame is recessed, at its outer edge, to permit the opposite lead or terminal emanating from the top of the reed switch to be bent into modified U-shape such that the free end projects in the same direction and parallel to the lead passing through the hole within the base of the frame.
  • the rectangular block-like lever is provided with cylindrical openings on axes parallel to the grooves and opening up onto opposite sides of the lever at the top and bottom respectively and defining flexible stops on each side thereof, permitting the insertion of a similarly sized and configured cylindrical permanent magnet which is snap fitted into the cylindrical recess, the permanent magnets being in juxtaposition to the respective reed switches and movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the switches.
  • a cylindrical projection depends downwardly from the bottom of the lever block, is provided with an annular ridge intermediate of its ends and retains a cylindrical rubber buffer which is slid thereon and which frictionally grasps the cylindrical projection.
  • a coil spring concentrically surrounds, at one end, a cylindrical projection on the upper face of a bottom cover for the switch case abuts the bottom of the rubber buffer and biases the lever towards the top of the case slots supporting the same. Holes within the cover permit the terminal ends of the switch leads to project therethrough for external electrical connections to the reed switches.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a push button switch constituting one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the manner in which the reed switch is captively inserted in the case.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the push button switch of FIGS. 1-3 inclusive.
  • FIG. 5a is a perspective view showing the manner of attaching the permanent magnet to the lever.
  • FIG. 5b is a perspective view identical to that of FIG. 5a, in which permanent magnets are completely attached to the lever.
  • FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention which employs a hollow case 10 of rectangular configuration, being of block form and being formed of an insulating material.
  • a rectangular hole 12 is bored within the upper-wall ll of case 10 and within a common plane the inner surfaces of sidewalls l3 and 14 respectively are provided with grooves 15 and 16 for guiding the push button operating lever 32 in a manner such that the lever is movable in an up and down direction.
  • the grooves oppose each other with the width of the grooves 15 and 16 being different, that is, the groove 15 is wider than groove 16.
  • each reed switch 22 is provided with contacts 25 and 26 illustrated in dotted line, sealed within a glass tube 24.
  • the protecting frame 27 is also made of insulating material and is a square pillar but being modified in terms of a U-shaped groove 28 within the front sur face of the frame and forming an L-shape, in elevation including a horizontal base and a vertical leg.
  • a hole 29 is bored through the leg of the protecting frame 27 through which passes an electrical lead 25' electrically connected to contact 25 internally of the reed switch glass tube 24.
  • the lead 25' which projects outwardly of the reed switch 23 at the bottom of the glass tube 24, is inserted through the axially aligned hole 29 of the projecting frame 27, such that the reed switch itself is located within the U-shaped groove 28, then the L-shaped terminal 30 is positioned on the rear side of the protecting,
  • reed switch 23 is thus securely located within the U- Y shaped groove 28 of the protecting frame 27 and is thereby fully protected.
  • the protecting frame 27, the reed switch 23, and the L-shaped terminal 30, when assembled together, as a unit, are then inserted within the protecting frame accommodating pit2l of the .case, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 although only one protecting frame 27 is positioned within its associated pit 21, it is of course possible to fit another identical protecting frame into the other pit 22, although the protecting frame is omitted purposely to simplify the description of the invention.
  • thepush button switch operating lever 32 being of rectangular block form and being provided with integral projections 34 and 34' at the upper end of the same with a narrow 'slot 33 formed therebetween.
  • a longitudinal recess within one side of the lever 32 forms a surface portion at the edge as at 36 which is narrower than the corresponding surface portion of the edge at the other side. This provides orientation to the lever permitting it to be inserted within the case oriented in a particular fashion.
  • a central 4 cylindrical projection 38' having an enlarged radial portion 37' intermediate of its end which acts to frictionally hold a cylindrical buffer piece formed 'of rubber, the buffer piece 46 being pushed onto the projection and locking in position by the radially enlarged portion 37.
  • two cylindrical cavities 39 and 40 are provided within the lever in lat erally spaced apart relationship.
  • two comparatively short en gagable stops for holding portions 41 and 42 are provided and on respective side surfaces of lever 32 at the lower portions of the cylindrical cavities 39 and 40 two comparatively long and similarly formed engagable stops or holding portion 43 and 44 are provided in diagonally opposite relationship to the short stops.
  • the side'openings formed by the cylindrical cavities are modified at the top and bottom of opposite sides by the presence of flexible stops, integral with the lever block.
  • cylindrical permanent magnets 45 may be inserted in such a manner that the upper end of permanent magnet 45 is .first introduced into the cylindrical cavity 39 as shown in FIG. 5a and then the lower part of the permanent magnet 45 is pressed into the cavity 39.
  • the engagable stops or holding portion 41 are forced outwardly by the permanent magnet 45 due to the nature of the slot formed therebetween, and in'the course of pressing the lower portion of permanent magnet 45 into the cavity, the permanent magnet 45 fits quite tightly into the cavity during final positioning so that the lower part of the permanent magnet 45 abuts the holding portion 43 on the opposite side thereof and is prevented from dropping out of cavity 39.
  • the upper part of the permanent magnet 45 is urged by the deformed holding portion 41 tending to returri'it to its original position so that the upper part of thepermanent magnetis held in position in axial alignment with the cavity receiving the same, FIG. 5b indicating the finalresting position of both permanent magnets within their respective cavities.
  • I-Sa inclusive illustrate a permanent magnet being inserted into only'one-cavity, it is seen in FIG. 5b that both cavities may receive permanent magnets. Further, as evidenced in FIG. 2, for instance, while there are provided two pits 21 and 22, the case may be modified by employing additional projections to projections 17, 18, 19 and 20 associated with all four corners whereby two permanent magnets may in fact actuate four reed switches, at the four corners thereof.
  • each permanent magnet can be attached to the lever by simple pressing of the permanent magnet into the cavity and deforming the stops temporarily permitting the attachment of a permanent magnet to the lever in an extremely simple and workable manner and wherein the production of the operating lever and thus the switchmay be substantially improved. Furthermore, when it is desirable to remove the permanent magnet 45 from a given cavity, the lower part of the permanentmagnet maybe readily pushed out of theholding portion by deforming the same permitting ready removal of the permanent magnet.
  • a rubber buffer piece 46 of cup-like configuration and having an internal diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical projection 38 which depends from lever 32 is forced to slip over the cylindrical projection 38.
  • the radially enlarged portion 37 of the cylindrical projection 38 acts to prevent the rubber buffer piece 46 from coming off the cylindrical projection when the lever is in raised position.
  • a coil spring 47 of a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical projection 38 is concentrically and forcibly placed on the buffer piece 46 with the radially enlarged portion 37 of projection 38 acting through the cylindrical portion of the cup-like piece 46 and lying intermediate of a given loop of the coil spring, prevents the coil spring from falling off of the rubber buffer piece.
  • lever 32 thus attached with a permanent magnet 45 or a pair of permanent magnets 45, a rubber buffer piece 46 and a coil spring 47 is then slid into the guide grooves 15, 16, within case 10, in an oriented manner. Since the width of the ends of lever 32 are different and correspond in turn to the width of grooves 15 and 16 receiving the same, there is only one position in which the lever may be inserted within case and thus any possibility of erroneously coupling the lever to the case is eliminated.
  • the upper centrally projecting part of lever 32 extends through the rectangular hole 12 of the case 10 and outwardly therefrom, and a push button'48 is fixed to the upper part of lever 32 in a well known manner.
  • a bottom plate 49 is employed to cover the open bottom of case 10.
  • the bottom plate 49 is provided with a plurality of holes as at 50 and 50 for permitting the terminal ends of leads 25 to project therethrough, while holes 51 and 51' permit leads or terminals 30 to project therethrough in similar fashion, assuming two reed switches are employed.
  • the bottom plate 49 is further provided with a projection 52 extending upwardly therefrom for locating the coil spring 47 carried by lever 32.
  • the bottom plate 49 may be fixed to the lower part of the case 10 by any conventional manner, with the leads 25 and terminals 30' extending through holes 50, 50' and 51, 51' respectively. This permits separate electrical connections to the switches carried by the case l '0.
  • the lower end of the coil spring 47 then engages the projection 52 by concentrically surrounding the same, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby any deviation of the coil spring 47 is prevented while at the same time the lever 32 is always urged upwardly by the coil spring.
  • depression of the push button 48 causes the spring biased lever 32 to move downwardly with both ends sliding along grooves and 16 until the rubber buffer piece 46 abuts projection 52 of bottom plate 49. At this time, the impact of lever 32 against the bottom plate 49 is absorbed by the presence of the rubber buffer piece 46.
  • the reed switch changes from the on state to the off state.
  • the reed switch may be changed in state by simple depression and releasing of the push button 48.
  • a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case, housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying at least one permanent magnet for changing the state of said switch during reciprocation past said switch from a first position to a second position
  • said lever comprises a rectangular block mounted at its edges within aligned grooves of opposed sidewalls of said case and wherein one edge of said lever is wider than the other and the grooves are of corresponding width, whereby said lever is oriented for insuring proper assembly of the same relative to said case.
  • said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom within said case, and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls, interiorly of said case, and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with said sidewalls and receiving said square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end of said one lead and the free end of said terminal and permitting the terminal-end of said one lead and said terminal to project exteriorly of said push button switch for permitting external circuit connections therewith and wherein said cover prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.
  • said lever includes at least one cylindrical cavity therein whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of said lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever, and wherein said permanent magnet is cylindrical in form and is of a size conforming to said cavity, said lever further comprising defiectable stops at respective ends of said cavity and on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby said permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing one end into one of said sidewall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof, and momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity and fully inserted therein.
  • a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying a permanent magnet for changing the state of said switch during lever reciprocation from a first position to a second position, the improvement comprising:
  • said permanent magnet being cylindrical in form and of a size conforming to said cavity, and deflectable stops at respective ends of said cavity on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever,
  • said cylindrical permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing the free end into one of the sidewall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof, and said permanent magnet is fully inserted within said cavity by momentarily deforming said defiectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindrical cavity and fully seated therein.
  • said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and actually protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U- shaped groove, the rear of said frame further being grooved along a line parallel with said bore, an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube and having the long end protruding downwardly within said groove on the rear of said frame with its free end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said one lead.
  • said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom wall within said case and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls, interiorly of said case and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with intersecting sidewalls at at least one corner thereof, each pit receiving a square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end lead and the free end of said terminal for each switch and permitting the terminal of said one lead and said terminal thereof to project exteriorly of said push button switch for permitting external circuit connections therewith, and wherein said cover member prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.
  • the push button switch as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a cylindrical projection depending from the bottom of said lever block, a radially enlarged portion provided on said projection intermediate of its ends, a cup-shaped resilient buffer having an internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the major portion of said cylindrical projection, said buffer being forcibly inserted on said cylindrical projection and a coil spring concentrically carriedv by said cupshaped buffer and captured by the distorted portion of said buffer at said radially enlarged portion of said projection, and wherein the bottom-of said coil spring engages said cover and tends to bias said lever away from said cover into a first lever position, whereby: depression of said lever to said second position causes said projection and said buffer to move downwardly within said case to compress said coil spring until said buffer contacts said cover.
  • a push button switch including a hollow rectangular case housing a movable switch operating lever mounted therein for reciprocating movement relative to at least one fixed reed switch and carrying a permanent magnet relative to each switch for changing the state of said switch during reciprocation past said switch from a first position to a second position, the improvement comprising:
  • said frame comprising a square pillar shaped member of insulating material
  • said case including means for insertably receiving said square pillar shaped member
  • the front of said frame being provided with a U shaped groove and a hole bored within the face of said frame centered with said groove,
  • said reed switch being formed of an elongated glass tube having reed switch contacts therein and axially protruding leads at each end, one lead received within said bore and extending therethrough when said tube occupies said U-shaped groove,
  • an inverted L-shaped terminal having a short end overlying the top of said frame and being electrically coupled to the upwardly protruding lead from said glass tube and having the long end thereof protruding downwardly, within said groove on the rear of said frame with the free end of the long end extending away from the base of said frame in the same direction and to the same extent as the terminal end of said wire lead.
  • said means for insertably receiving said frame includes an open bottom within said case and projecting strips extending inwardly from said sidewalls interiorly of said case and defining a rectangular pit in conjunction with intersecting sidewalls at at least one corner thereof, each pit receiving a related square pillar shaped reed switch protecting frame, and a cover member overlying the open end of said case, said cover member being provided with drilled holes aligned with the terminal end of said one lead and the free end of said terminal at each switch location and permitting the terminal end of said one lead and the terminal to project exteriorly of said push button switch for external circuit connections therewith and wherein said cover prevents said lever and said switch protecting frame from falling out of said hollow case.
  • said lever includes at least one cylindrical cavity whose axis is parallel to the reciprocating path of the lever, said cavity opening up on either side of said lever and wherein said permanent magnet is cylindrical in form and is of a size conforming to said cavity, said lever further comprising deflectable stops at respective ends of said cavity and on opposite sides thereof and partially overlying the cavity openings within the sidewalls of said lever, whereby; said permanent magnet is inserted by inclining the same and forcing one end into one of said sidwall openings and towards the opening on the opposite side thereof and by momentarily deforming said deflectable stops until said permanent magnet is aligned with said cylindricalcavity, said magnet is fully inserted therein.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
US00322247A 1972-01-21 1973-01-09 Push button switch Expired - Lifetime US3810052A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP47008123A JPS5130950B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-01-21 1972-01-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3810052A true US3810052A (en) 1974-05-07

Family

ID=11684497

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00322247A Expired - Lifetime US3810052A (en) 1972-01-21 1973-01-09 Push button switch

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3810052A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5130950B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4283613A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-08-11 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Construction for attaching knob to manipulation rod of push-button type mechanism
US4285097A (en) * 1977-02-15 1981-08-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Structure for fixing a knob to a part to be operated through the knob
US4734832A (en) * 1986-05-23 1988-03-29 Tekna Spotlight with interchangeable handle
DE9318546U1 (de) * 1993-12-03 1994-02-10 Siemens AG, 80333 München Schalter
US20130016426A1 (en) * 2011-07-11 2013-01-17 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Three-dimensional glasses
US10126783B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2018-11-13 Apple Inc. Portable computing system
US10162390B2 (en) 2015-01-16 2018-12-25 Apple Inc. Hybrid acoustic EMI foam for use in a personal computer
US10228721B2 (en) 2014-05-26 2019-03-12 Apple Inc. Portable computing system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5311067U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1976-07-10 1978-01-30
JPS5767231A (en) * 1980-10-14 1982-04-23 Idec Izumi Corp Illumination type pushbutton switch

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3462719A (en) * 1967-10-26 1969-08-19 Peter A Peroni Universal modular printed circuit magnetic reed keyboard switch assembly

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3462719A (en) * 1967-10-26 1969-08-19 Peter A Peroni Universal modular printed circuit magnetic reed keyboard switch assembly

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4285097A (en) * 1977-02-15 1981-08-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Structure for fixing a knob to a part to be operated through the knob
US4283613A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-08-11 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Construction for attaching knob to manipulation rod of push-button type mechanism
US4734832A (en) * 1986-05-23 1988-03-29 Tekna Spotlight with interchangeable handle
DE9318546U1 (de) * 1993-12-03 1994-02-10 Siemens AG, 80333 München Schalter
US20130016426A1 (en) * 2011-07-11 2013-01-17 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Three-dimensional glasses
US10228721B2 (en) 2014-05-26 2019-03-12 Apple Inc. Portable computing system
US10126783B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2018-11-13 Apple Inc. Portable computing system
US10162390B2 (en) 2015-01-16 2018-12-25 Apple Inc. Hybrid acoustic EMI foam for use in a personal computer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4877374A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-17
JPS5130950B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-09-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3927290A (en) Selectively illuminated pushbutton switch
US3810052A (en) Push button switch
US3622922A (en) Electric pushbutton switch
EP1536445A3 (de) Schalter mit einem temperaturabhängigen Schaltwerk
GB1198249A (en) Magnetic Switching Devices
JP3067588B2 (ja) ブレーカスイッチ
US3288973A (en) Push-push switch convertible to momentary switch
US3378663A (en) Pushbutton switch with improved guide means
US3401242A (en) Fluorescent tube lampholder with compact switching means operable with the insertionand removal of a fluorescent lamp
US5057807A (en) Keyboard switch
US3134870A (en) Permanent magnet proximity switch
US3249714A (en) Magnetically operable switching device
US3236965A (en) Sealed switch for strong currents
US2519329A (en) Electrical switch
JPH0542580Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
US3024335A (en) Electrical assembly
US4733027A (en) Auto-return type push switch
US4121062A (en) Change-over slide switch with grounding spring member
GB1245374A (en) Splash-proof electrical switch
US3777091A (en) Pushbutton switch with adjustable contact plates for normally on, normally off, and momentary action
JP2022043622A (ja) プッシュスイッチ
US4523064A (en) Snap action switch
JPH0339877Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
US3265847A (en) Push button switch having indicator means
KR100357926B1 (ko) 푸시 버튼 스위치와 그 제조방법