WO2009076376A1

WO2009076376A1 - Interlocking button switch set

Info

Publication number: WO2009076376A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/086113
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yang Wang
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Priority date: 2007-12-12
Filing date: 2008-12-10
Publication date: 2009-06-18
Also published as: CN101458996B; CN101458996A

Abstract

The invention relates to interlocking button switch set having smaller sectional width and able to seal its operating panel with elastic thin film cover layer. Said interlocking button switch set formed from a plurality of individual button switch units. In switchover process, the executive end of the starting element in said button switch unit presses down the movable contact arm to cause it rotating round a shaft from one connection position to another connection position, then electrically connecting or disconnecting with one of a pair of static terminals, which is placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to movable terminal. Simultaneously, each button switch unit has only one touch end designed with small traveling distance for implementing switchover conveniently. When buttons are put up at their respective highest position, all of said touch ends still are beneath said cover layer, so that it may be suitable to seal operating panel with cover layer. The invention is compact in configuration, reliable in sealing, suitable to be installed in a small size and compact electrical device, of which the operating panel has to be sealed for using in an occasion being full with dust, oil smoke or/and moisture.

Description

INTERLOCKING BUTTON SWITCH SET

FIELD OF THE ART

The invention relates to an individual button switch, and relates to an interlocking button switch formed from a plurality of individual button switches.

For convenience and distinction in following description the individual button switch sometimes also may be called as button switch unit and the interlocking button switch as interlocking button switch set, if necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

The button switch, especially the interlocking button switch, has been widely used in the control field of electrical appliance. Said interlocking button switch is formed from a plurality of button switches, which are controllably and electrically connected together in order to have function to implement interlocking, namely "in such interlocking button switch, when one button of a button switch is pressed down and other buttons of the rest of button switches all may be put up." Through assigning different value for different button according to the electric logic, such interlocking button switch product may implement more complex electrical functions, thus it may be suitable to meet the requirements of the electrical connection for multi-circuit or multi-function device. For example, in the household electrical appliance industry, various corresponding buttons disposed on the panel of interlocking button switch may carry out various functions for smoke exhaust ventilator respectively.

An interlocking button switch having aforesaid features was disclosed by the application specification of Ark-Les Corporation for U.S. Patent (U.S. Patent No. 4,362,910). Here it is associated with the application specification of the invention for reference and used as a correlative background of prior art to be introduced. This U.S. Patent has an interlocking mechanism formed from a plurality of sliding blocks which may be slid along longitudinal direction of the switch, the force-acting surface at two ends of the slide block are matched with their respective adjacent buttons, thus it may carry out that when one button of a button switch is pressed down and other buttons of the rest of button switches all are put up. This interlocking mechanism is safety. Figure 2 in the drawings of this specification is a sectional view of the configuration along transversal direction of this U.S. Patent product. Here is made a briefly introduction to it.

In prior art, when starting element 2OP is pressed down, starting element 2OP will be matched with the upper surface 34"P (first contact portion) of moveable contact arm 38P through first executive position 22AP thereof, then moveable contact arm 38P is pressed downward to cause second electricity-conductive portion 35'P of moveable contact arm 38P being electrically connected with second electricity-contact surface 35P of second static terminal 33P; when starting element 2OP is put up, starting element 2OP will be matched with the lower surface 35"P (second contact portion) of moveable contact arm 38P through second executive position 22BP thereof, then moveable contact arm 38P is put upward to cause first electricity-conductive portion 34'P of moveable contact arm 38P being electrically connected with first electricity-contact surface 34P of first static terminal 32P, in the same time to cause second electricity-conductive portion 35'P of moveable contact arm 38P being electrically disconnected with second electricity-conductive portion 35P of second static terminal 33P.

Additionally, in prior art, between moveable contact arm 38P and wire connection portion 31 P is disposed resilient element to cause the connection to be reliable and snapped in switchover process. From the sectional view of the configuration along transversal direction of this U.S. Patent product, it also may be seen that: moveable contact arm 38P is a slim and long structural member, the distance between contact portion (34"P, 35"P) and the rotating axis of moveable contact arm is larger than that between executive position (22AP, 22BP) and the rotating axis of moveable contact arm, the former preferably is two times of the latter. The configuration of this U.S. Patent product can be meet the requirements for safety and reliable control of electric logic under condition of higher voltage working environment, thus this U.S. Patent product may be widely used for electrical devices.

But in the same time, these structural features of aforesaid U.S. Patent product also causes the product has a larger size in lateral direction, i.e. the width of the panel of the electrical appliance will become lager, so that the installation of this U.S. Patent product on small and compact electrical devices, e.g. on a small-size household electrical appliance, will be limited, so that this U.S. Patent product cannot meet the design requirements when it is intended to dispose this U.S. Patent product in a compact space in the field of these small and compact electrical devices. Furthermore, in the transversal configuration of aforesaid U.S. Patent, an abnormally shaped resilient element (generally it is a C-shaped spring), which is used as a bias element for the switchover process of contactor (i.e. electricity-conductive portion), has to be adopted and disposed on moveable contact arm simultaneously. The C-shaped spring is made from Be-Cu alloy. Such material is expensive, the C-shaped spring also needs to be chemically processed and is difficult to fabricate and installed it on the button switch. Therefore it will be resulted in higher cost for designing, fabricating, machining and installing of whole button switch.

Additionally, in the switchover process of the familiar button switch sold in the market, e.g. the familiar household wall switch, the button may be pressed down from two opposite positions, i.e. the button of such switch has two touch ends, different touch end is defined with different connection state. Due to the two touch ends of the button defined with different connection states, the connection states of touch ends are easily to cause user unable to distinguish them obviously, and then to cause user making a wrong operation. In the same time, for ensuring a right and reliable electrical switchover able to be obtained in switchover process, so that for each of two touch ends positioned on a button face to face, a larger traveling distance is required in design to ensure that one touch end may be not under the operational panel of button switch, i.e. the lowest position of said touch end also has to be higher than the plane, in which said operating panel exists, when it is pressed down; and another touch end may be sufficiently put up out of said plane, after these two touch ends rotate round their common rotating axis, to ensure it is at a position able to be pressed down in like manner. All these said above will be resulted in that the operating panel of button switch cannot be sealed with cover layer and cause the appearance of entire panel being not handsome for all the touch ends have to be out of panel with sufficient height. The most important thing is that no cover layer to seal this U.S. Patent button switch will limit its application in an environment being full with dust, oil smoke or/and moisture, where the surface of the button switch must sealed with cover layer.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTON

A technical problem intended to be solved by the invention is to provide a simple configurative button switch formed from low-cost structural members, as well as to provide an interlocking button switch formed from a plurality of such button switches able to safely and reliably implement the control of interlocking between/among said button switches. The button switch and the interlocking button switch all may be widely used for electrical devices especially for small-size compact electrical devices with a small lateral size operating panel.

Another technical problem intended to be solved by the invention is to provide a button switch able to be sealed for use, especially to provide a button switch, wherein the operating panel for arranging touch ends protruded out of the panel, may be sealed suitably for a long time use under condition being full with dust, oil smoke or/and moisture. For achieving the object to seal the operating panel safely and reliably for daily use, to cause the highest point of touch end of button switch not to protrude out of the outer surface of panel sealing cover layer in the case whether the button switch is on or off, then to keep a small variation of traveling distance of touch end in switchover process for matching with the use of the sealing cover layer and getting good effect on switchover and feeling good hand handle simultaneously.

For solving aforesaid problems, the invention firstly relates to a button switch, wherein comprising: switch housing, starting element, static terminal and moveable terminal all disposed on the housing; starting element further including a rotational shaft placed close to one side of and rotationally connected with the housing in order to cause the starting element to have a first connection position and a second connection position relative to the housing; touch end for causing the starting element able to rotate round the rotational shaft from first connection position to second connection position relative to the housing; static terminals comprising a first static terminal and a second static terminal, these two static terminals placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to the wire connection portion of the moveable terminal; when the touch end of the button is pressed down to cause the starting element rotating round the rotational shaft from first connection position to second connection position relative to the housing, said moveable contact arm will electrically disconnect with the first static terminal and electrically connect with the second static terminal; when the supporting end is put up to cause starting element rotating round the rotational shaft from second connection position to first connection position relative to the housing, said moveable contact arm will electrically disconnect with the second static terminal and electrically connect with the first static terminal; supporting end for causing the starting element able to rotate round the rotational shaft from second connection position to first connection position relative to the housing; executive end; static terminals and moveable terminal all disposed on the housing, wherein moveable terminal further comprising the wire connection portion disposed on the housing and the moveable contact arm; on one side of the moveable contact arm disposed the contact-portion, which is able to contact with executive end and rotate round the pivoting joint at the top end of wire connection portion positioned at the middle of the moveable contact arm, namely this contact portion is rotationally connected with the wire connection portion, the downward pressing force also is acted thereon. Additionally, for solving aforesaid problems the invention also may be an interlocking button switch set formed from a plurality of button switch units having aforesaid technical features and relevant interlocking elements installed into a housing. And an interlocking relation will be formed between/among the each of switch units in the button switch set. Namely, the interlocking button switch set comprises: switch housing; a plurality of button switch units set up in said housing; each of said button switch units including: starting element having a rotational shaft placed close to one side of and being rotationally connected with said housing in order to cause said starting element to have a first connection position and a second connection position relative to said housing; touch end used for causing said starting element able to rotate round said rotational shaft from first connection position to second connection position relative to said housing; supporting end used for causing the starting element able to rotate round the rotational shaft from second connection position to first connection position relative to said housing; executive end; static terminals and moveable terminal all disposed on the housing, wherein moveable terminal further comprising the wire connection portion disposed on the housing and the moveable contact arm; on one side of the moveable contact arm disposed the contact-portion, which is able to contact with executive end and rotate round the pivoting joint at the top end of wire connection portion positioned at the middle of the moveable contact arm, namely this contact portion is rotationally connected with the wire connection portion, the downward pressing force also is acted thereon; said static terminals comprising a first static terminal and a second static terminal, wherein these two static terminals placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to the wire connection portion of the moveable terminal; interlocking elements, each of said interlocking elements, having interlocking supporting surface to match with the supporting end of the starting element, is placed in the housing and between two relevant button switch units, and also able to move along said housing; said two relevant button switch units and said interlocking element are configured in such a manner that: when any of said starting element is pressed down and said starting element may rotate round rotational shaft from first connection position to second connection position relative to said housing, said moveable contact arm of the button switch unit having one button to be pressed down, will electrically disconnected with first static terminal and electrically connected with second static terminal, the supporting end of said starting element also may push the supporting surface of said interlocking element, which is matched with said supporting end to cause all the starting elements of other button switch units to come back to first connection position; said moveable contact arm of each of other button switch units implementing electrical disconnection with second static terminal and electrical connection with first static terminal.

In the meantime, the invention also may be a interlocking multiple button switch set formed from a plurality of interlocking button switch sets, the interior of each said button switch set has an interlocking function, thus it will cause such interlocking multiple switch set able to be used in a wider occasion. The adoption of aforesaid two technical solutions may cause the moveable contact arm able to be with a shorter length and to shake up and down (as shown in Figures) resulted in implementation of electrical connection or electrical disconnection with one of static terminals (first static terminal or second static terminal), because the first static and the second static terminal are placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to the wire connection portion of the moveable terminals and the moveable contact arm may be rotated round the intermediate pivoting joint. Thus the entire configuration of the interlocking button switch set will be more compact. But in the configuration of the prior art, the contact regions are placed at same side relative to pivoting joint of the moveable contact arm; the pivoting joint also is placed at one end of the moveable contact arm; the moveable contact arm in such a configuration has to be with a longer length in order to be able to electrically connect or electrically disconnect with one of static terminals, which all are placed at one side of the wire connection portion, when the moveable contact arm shakes up and down. In such a configuration, for implementing safe and reliable electrical connection and electrical disconnection, it is necessary that the length from the pivoting joint to the contact regions has to be larger than the length from the pivoting joint to the contact portion of the starting element, then the lateral size of the product of button switch unit and/or interlocking button switch set has to be enlarged. Therefore under the condition of same voltage, the lateral size of the product fabricated according to the technical solution of the invention will be 1/3 smaller than that of the product according to the prior art, so that it may meet the installation requirements on small-size compact electrical devices.

Because in switchover process all the starting elements of the invention always are pressed down tightly against moveable contact arm to cause the arm to implementing electrical connection or electrical disconnection with first static terminal or second static terminal, in this switchover process the executive end also may be biased relative to the starting element, so that in the switchover process the invention may implement a good contact with various contact surfaces and provide a silvery snap for switchover when an electrical connection or an electrical disconnection is completed. But the executive end in the prior art is to press down moveable contact arm along downward direction, to put up moveable contact arm along upward direction, and unable to be biased relative to the starting element for implementing electrical connection or electrical disconnection with first static terminal or second static terminal. Further because the moveable contact arm in the prior art has to use a shape with longer length; so that for achieving same technical effect in switchover work, a C-shaped spring or other abnormal shaped resilient element for biasing the moveable contact arm has to be equipped with the moveable contact arm. It may be seen that: in the structural feature of the invention, the biased structural member is the executive end; but in the prior art biased structural member is the moveable contact arm; thus in the case of the invention, the slim and long C-shaped spring disposed on the moveable contact arm may be omitted, but in case of the prior art it has to be equipped; in the case of the invention, It may use an executive end made from resilient material equipped or to use an ordinary helical spring directly equipped on the starting element in order to implement same technical effect and decrease fabrication cost. Simultaneously, for the button switch unit in the invention the button has only one touch end able to be pressed down along one direction, rather than has two touch ends placed face to face on a button able to be pressed down and put up in such manner as a up-and-down plate, I.e. when one of these two touch ends is pressed down, then another is put up, and vice versa. So that touch-end-pressing operation may be simplified, direct, and not easy to cause user's misunderstanding. Furthermore, in switchover process the variation ranges of traveling distance for all touch ends of button switch set are smaller, thus the operating panel of interlocking button switch set may be sealed with elastic plane cover layer, then suitable to use in a working environment being full with dust, oil smoke and/or moisture.

As a further improvement of the invention, an electrical connection state-indicating element is associated with each of the starting elements of their respective button switch units and an indicating window is correspondingly opened on the operating panel and cover layer. When the starting element of a button switch unit is at first connection position or second connection position, the electrical connection state-indicating element will be at different position relative to the housing, so that through the indicating window will observe the different connection state for different starting element, by which the current connection state of the interlocking button switch set may be determined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1A is a perspective view of the interlocking button switch set of the invention.

Figure 1 B is a perspective view clearly to show the bottom of the interlocking button switch set of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the interlocking button switch set of the prior art along transversal direction, which is used as an example in the background of the art. Figure 3 is a front view of the interlocking button switch set of the invention with patterns on its operating panel cover layer.

Figure 4A is a longitudinal sectional view along line C-C in Figure 3 clearly to show the longitudinal position of each of corresponding interlocking elements when all buttons are put up.

Figure 4B shows the positions of each corresponding button and each corresponding interlocking element in the configuration of Figure 4A, when button B3 is pressed down.

Figure 4C shows the positions of each corresponding button and each corresponding interlocking element in the configuration of Figure 4B, when button B1 is pressed down.

Figure 4D is a longitudinal sectional view along line C-C in Figure 3 clearly to show the longitudinal position of each of corresponding interlocking elements in the case of two matched switch sets when all buttons are put up.

Figure 4E shows the positions of each of other corresponding buttons and corresponding interlocking elements of different switch sets in the configuration of Figure 4D, when one button is pressed down.

Figure 4F shows the positions of each of other corresponding buttons and corresponding interlocking elements in different switch sets in the configuration of Figure 4E, when another button is pressed down.

Figure is a longitudinal sectional view along line D-D in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view to show the position of each portion of the moveable terminal of the invention.

Figure 7A is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention at first connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 7B is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention at second connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 8A is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the invention at first connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 8B is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the invention at second connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 9A is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the invention at first connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 9B is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the invention at second connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 1 OA is a sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the invention at first connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 1 OB is a sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the invention at second connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 11A is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the invention at first connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 11 Bis a sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the invention at second connection position along line A-A in Figure 5.

Figure 12A is a perspective view of the starting element of the invention, and

Figure 12B is a perspective view of the starting element of the invention along another direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 A shows an appearance of the housing of interlocking button switch set having a plurality of button switch units of the invention, wherein the plug-in structure is used for the housing composed with an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12. According to the measurements commonly used in housing fabrication, other encapsulation modes also may be used, such as the housing is formed from more than two portions by plug-in structure or formed by integrative molding, etc. The housing has to be made from insulating material in order to ensure safety in use. Additionally, on the upper surface of housing, i.e. operating panel, is covered with panel sealing cover layer 13, on which are printed some indicating patterns or symbols, in order that by these patterns or symbols the switch buttons may be respectively assigned with different electric logic value in accordance with various requirements for implementing different electrical connections when a relevant button is pressed down. Simultaneously, on the panel sealing cover layer and beside the button is opened a transparent visible window 13', its position is placed able to be corresponding to the interior configuration of switch set in order to meet the requirement to show the different connection position when said button is pressed down. It is more important that the panel sealing cover layer 13 can achieve a sealing effect for the switch set, thus said switch set may be used in a working environment being full with dust, oil smoke and/or moisture.

Figure 1 B is a perspective view clearly to show the terminals of the interlocking button switch (or switch set) of the invention, wherein said terminals comprising a row of moveable terminals 31 placed at middle position along transversal direction, and two row of static terminals 33 and 32 placed correspondingly at each side face to face relative to moveable terminals, thus more electrical connection functions may be implemented.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the interlocking button switch set of the prior art along transversal direction, which is used as an example in the background of the art, wherein said switch set comprising: housing 10P composed of upper housing 11 P and lower housing 12P; first static terminal

32P and second static terminal 33P; wire connection portion 31 P of moveable terminal; moveable contact arm 38P; interlocking element 14P having supporting surface 14'P; starting element 2OP composed of touch end 21 P, supporting portion 27P and rotational shaft 28P; in the prior art, when starting element 2OP is pressed down, through matching with first executive position 22AP and upper surface 34"P (the first contact portion) of moveable contact arm 38P, starting element 2OP will press moveable contact arm 38P downward to cause second electricity-conductive portion 35'P of moveable contact arm 38P being electrically connected with second electricity-contact surface 35P of second static terminal 33P; when starting element 2OP is put up, through matching with second executive position 22BP and lower surface 35"P (second contact portion) of moveable contact arm 38P, staring element 2OP will put up moveable contact arm 38P to cause first electricity-conductive portion 34'P of moveable contact arm 38P being electrically connected with first electricity-conductive surface 34P of first static terminal 32P, in the meantime to cause second electricity-conductive portion 35'P of moveable contact arm 38P being electrically disconnected with second electricity-contact surface 35P of second static terminal 33P.

Simultaneously, in prior art, between moveable contact arm 38P and wire connection portion 31 P is disposed abnormal-shaped spring 29¹P (in general, it is C-shaped spring) to implement a reliable electrical connection and deliver a silvery snap in switchover process. From the sectional view of the configuration of this U.S. Patent product along transversal direction it also may be seen that: moveable contact arm 38P is a slim and long structural member; in transversal direction, the distance from contact portion (34"P, 35"P) to the rotating axis of moveable contact arm is larger than that from executive position (22AP, 22BP) to the rotating axis of moveable contact arm, the former preferably is two times of the latter; for the lateral size, because both of static terminals and the moveable terminal are placed respectively at opposite two sides of the housing, supporting end 27P of starting element 2OP matched with interlocking element is placed at the middle between the first and the second static terminal, thus it is unavoidable to cause the lateral size of the product of the prior art being larger.

It may be seen that some shortcomings are existed in the button switch (or button switch set) of the prior art, such as larger lateral size, incompact configuration, and high cost for fabricating C-shaped spring.

Figure 3 is a front view of the interlocking button switch set of the invention, wherein each button is defined according to the requirement of practical electrical-logic connection and an indicating cover layer 13 is adopted and placed in a plane in which the operating panel exists. Thus it not only may provide available information to the user, but also quite importantly it may seal the operating panel to cause said button switch set able to be used in an environment full with dust, oil smoke, moisture, etc., where it is required the outer surface of operating panel has to be sealed. The cover layer has to be made from a resilient material suitable for button pressing-down or putting-up, and has to be made almost being an integrated plane in order to ensure a good sealing for operating panel. The resilient material preferably chosen for the invention is polymer film, which allows the buttons able to be slightly protruded out of operational panel. The cover layer 13 adopted in combination with the configuration of the invention not only may indicate users correctly to operate but also may seal the operating panel to prevent pollutant existing in exterior environment to enter button switch set and to prevent spark to spray to exterior environment in switchover process. Furthermore, said cover layer may cause the users having a handle similar to switching a switch of electronic touch mode. The concrete configuration of the invention will be introduced as follows.

The inventive product in Figure 2 has five working buttons and a reset button. For example, as shown in the Figure B1 and B3 are working buttons, BO is reset button. Reset button is used to ensure that all other working buttons are put up, namely comeback to their respective initial position when it is pressed down. Because in the case that when the working buttons all are at their respective highest positions, the interior configuration of the button switch set also has an electric connection state correspondingly, so that this position in the invention is called as first connection position of the working button (sometimes briefly referred to button, if no misunderstanding occurs) or the starting element of the switch set. Figure 4A is a sectional view along line C-C in Figure 3. All the buttons shown in the Figure are at their respective initial positions, i.e. at their respective first connection positions. From the Figure it is known that all buttons are at their respective highest positions. Corresponding to these positions, the longitudinal setting state of interlocking element 14 of the product in switch set housing, the positional relation and contact relation between interlock-supporting surface 14' of interlocking element 14 and the supporting end 27 of button also may be known.

Figure 4B shows that when button B3 is pressed down along a direction as indicated by arrowhead P, interlocking element 14 will be pushed by supporting end 27 of button B3 through interlock-supporting surface 14', which is adjacent to and contacts with said supporting end, then to slide along longitudinal direction of switch set housing, i.e. along a direction as indicated by arrowhead M in the Figure, and further to cause the rest of interlocking elements changing their respective longitudinal positions, i.e. positions along a direction as indicated by arrowhead M in the Figure; In the meantime, interlock-supporting surface 14' also will contact with supporting end 27 of corresponding button and yield pushing force to keep the rest of buttons all at their respective highest positions, i.e. at first connection position of button as described in the invention, in order to implement the interlocking function between/among buttons.

Figure 4C shows that when button B1 is pressed down along a direction as indicated by arrowhead P, interlocking element 14 will be pushed by supporting end 27 of button B1 through interlock-supporting surface 14', which is adjacent to and contacts with the supporting end, then to slide along longitudinal direction of switch set housing, i.e. along a direction as indicated by arrowhead M in Figure, and further to cause the rest of interlocking elements changing their respective longitudinal positions, i.e. positions along a direction as indicated by arrowhead M in the Figure; In the meantime, for interlock-supporting surface 14' will contact with supporting end 27 of corresponding button and yield pushing force, so that pressed down button B3 in Figure 4B will be put up because of said pushing force, due to said pushing force all the rest of buttons also will be kept at their respective highest positions, i.e. first connection position of button as described in the invention, in order to implement the interlocking function between/among buttons.

In Figures 4A to 4C is clearly shown a mode for implementing interlocking function of interlocking buttons. This interlocking function, namely to implement such a interlocking function: " when one button is pressed down, the rest of buttons all will be put up", also may be achieved by using other similar configurations, such as to implement this function by using the button configuration of household electric fan, or that of recorder for magnetic tape.

Figures 4D to 4F show the working circumstance of interlocking elements under condition of two interlocking button switch set. In the Figures said above, two independent interlocking button switch set are placed respectively at one side of line E-E, each set may independently implement its interlocking function and does not interfere each other, thus this interlocking multiple button switch set formed from two such independent interlocking button sets will be used in a wider scope. Figure 4D is a sectional view to show the buttons in two interlocking multiple switch set all are put up, i.e. all are at their respective first connection positions, Figure 4E is a sectional view to show the position circumstance between/among interlocking elements 14 of relevant button when one button in each of two interlocking multiple switch set is pressed down. Figure 4F shows the position circumstance between/among interlocking elements 14 of relevant button when another one button in each of two interlocking multiple switch set is pressed down, it is used as a contrast to Figure 4E. The change process of button positions in each of two interlocking multiple switch set shown in Figure 4E is similar to those respectively shown in Figures 4A to 4C.

From Figures 4D to 4F, it may be seen that for two of such interlocking button sets are adopted and no interlocking element is used between them, so that each of these two button switch sets is only able to implement the interlocking function in the interior of itself and there is no interference between these two button switch sets. Therefore such interlocking multiple button switch set may implement more functions of electrical connection and may be used in wider scope.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view along line D-D in Figure 3. From the Figure it may be seen that at the bottom of the reset button BO is disposed a spring BO'. Due to this spring, such an interlocking effect may be achieved that when the reset button is pressed down, other buttons in the button switch set all are put up. It is ensured that other buttons all at their respective put-up position, i.e. at their respective first connection position said in the invention. Furthermore, due to the action of spring BO', reset button BO also may automatically comeback to its initial position, no longer need to press down any of other buttons to cause the reset button coming-back to its initial position. At the bottom of reset button shown in Figure 5 is disposed no terminal. The reset button whether equipped with terminal or not is determined by the logic relation of electrical connection. For implementing a certain electrical connection, at the bottom of reset button also may be disposed a terminal.

Figure 6 is a sectional view to show the position of each portion of the moveable terminal 30 of the invention. Moveable terminal 30 comprises wire connection portion 31 and moveable contact arm 38. As shown in Figure, relative to wire connection portion 31 , moveable arm 38 may rotate round a pivoting joint 36 placed at the middle of itself, wherein the preferable position of the pivoting joint 36 is placed just at the center of moveable contact arm 38. Additionally, moveable touch arm 38 has contact portions (34", 35") side

(upper surface of moveable touch arm 38), and electricity-conductive portions

(34', 35') side (lower surface of moveable touch arm 38). As shown in Figure, on the contact portion side (upper surface) of moveable touch arm 38 are disposed the first and the second contact portion, wherein first contact portion 34" and second contact portion 35" are placed respectively at two opposite ends on said contact portion side and relative to wire connection portion 31 , round whose top end said moveable contact arm may rotate; similarly, on the electricity-conductive portion side (lower surface) of moveable touch arm 38 also are disposed the first electricity-conductive and the second electricity-conductive portions, wherein first electricity-conductive portion 34' and second electricity-conductive portion 35' are placed respectively at two opposite ends on said electricity-conductive portion side and relative to wire connection portion 31. Both first contact portion 34" and first electricity-conductive portion 34' are at one side of the wire connection portion, both second contact portion 35' and second electricity-conductive portion 35" are at another side of wire connection portion 31.

Figure 7A is a sectional view along line A-A in Figure 5 to show the first embodiment of the invention in the case that it is at first connection position and has only one static terminal 32 being disposed. The first connection position said in the invention means the button of the product is at putting-up state, i.e. at a state not to be pressed down.

As shown in Figure, the product of the invention comprises: switch set housing 10 formed from upper housing 11 and lower housing 12; interlocking element 14 having interlock-supporting surface 14', which is disposed in the housing and able to slide along the longitudinal direction of the housing; starting element 20 having rotational shaft 28, round which the starting element will be rotationally connected with the housing and able to cause the starting element having first connection position and second connection position, i.e. the starting element at putting-up state or at a pressing-down state. As shown in the Figure, rotational shaft 28 is disposed close to one side of the housing, entire starting element 20 is offset somewhat far away from aforesaid side relative to the axis of rotational shaft 28, it is different from that in the prior art, wherein starting element 20 is placed symmetrically relative to rotational shaft axis. Relevant structural portions of said offset starting element 20 further comprises: touch end 21 on which the downward pressing force is acted, executive end 22 able to contact with moveable contact arm 38 and supporting end 27 able to contact with moveable contact arm 38 and isosceles trapezoid shaped interlock-supporting surface 14' able to bear the pushing force acted by the interlocking element. In the lower portion of the product of the invention there are static terminal 32 disposed on the housing and moveable terminals 30; static terminal 30 having electricity-contact surface 34, the configuration of said moveable terminal just as that previously introduced to Figure 6. Additionally, the surfaces of contact portions 34", 35" able to contact with executive end 22 of starting element 20, and the side of the moveable contact arm for arranging electricity-conductive portions 34', 35', which is opposite to the side of the moveable contact arm for arranging contact portions 34", 35", are used for matching respectively with electricity-contact surfaces 34 of first static terminal 32 to implement electrical connection or electrical disconnection.

Figure 7A shows the position relation and the connection relation between/among structural members of the product of the invention having only one static terminal 32 and being at first connection position, just as that described about Figures 4A to 4C. Due to interlocking element 14 sliding toward starting element 20 along longitudinal direction of housing, interlock-supporting surface 14' may push supporting end 27 of starting element 20 to cause starting element 20 rotating round rotational shaft 28, resulted in starting button being rotationally connected with housing, to first connection position relative housing, namely starting element is at its highest position. As shown in Figure 7A, executive end 22 may press tightly against first contact portion 34" at one side (upper surface) of moveable contact arm 38 along a direction to press starting element 20 downward, to cause moveable contact arm 38 rotating round the top end of wire connection portion 31 (i.e. round a pivoting joint) and further to cause electricity-conductive portion 34' at another side (lower surface) of moveable contact arm electrically connect with electricity-contact surface 34 of static terminal 32, thus the electrical connection at first connection position is implemented, namely static terminal 32 form an electrical connection with wire connection portion 31 through moveable contact arm 38. Of course, other mechanisms, such as reset spring, etc., also may be adopted to implement putting up supporting end 27, and to cause starting element 20 rotating round rotational shaft 28 to first connection position, i.e. at putting up position of starting element 20.

In the meantime, from Figure 7A it may be seen that touch end 21 of the starting element and supporting end 27 all are at same side relative to rotational shaft 28, thus the rotational motion of touch end 21 and supporting end 27 may be occurred at same side relative to the rotational shaft. The difference of the interlocking button switch set of the invention from ordinary button switch set is that: in the case of the invention the button is only able to be pressed down by only one touch end, but in the case of ordinary button switch set the button may be respectively pressed down by two touch ends like an up-and-down plate, namely one touch end of the button is pressed down, another one touch end will be put up, and vice versa. So that in the invention, the button pressing-down operation may be furthest simplified and direct, and it does not easily cause user misunderstanding.

As in Figure 7B shows the position relation and the connection relation between/among structural members of the product of the invention having only one static terminal 32 and being at second connection position. When touch end 21 of starting element 20 is pressed down along a direction indicated as arrowhead P, said starting element will rotate round rotational shaft 28 to second connection position relative to the housing; as shown in the Figure, supporting end 27 of the starting element also will rotate round the rotational shaft, as same as the touch end of the starting element rotating round the rotational shaft, to push interlock-supporting surface 14' of interlocking element 14 (in Figure 7B, interlock-supporting surface 14' is pressed down by supporting end 27 and slide away from its original position, so it is not seen in Figure), then to cause interlocking element 14 departing far away from the staring element, as that in the description for Figures 4A to 4C; simultaneously, as same as the touch end of the starting element rotating round the rotational shaft, executive end 22 also will rotate round the rotational shaft to bias and press tightly against second contact portion 35" of the contact portion of moveable contact arm 28 placed at one side (upper surface) of the moveable contact arm to cause moveable contact arm 28 rotating round the top end of wire connection portion 31 and further to cause first electricity-conductive portion 34' of the electricity-conductive portion of the moveable contact arm 28 placed at another side (lower surface) of the moveable contact arm electrically disconnecting with electricity-contact surface 34; thus the electrical disconnection at second connection position is implemented, namely static terminal 32 forms an electrical disconnection with wire connection portion 31 when the starting element is at pressing-down position (at starting state).

Figures 8A and 8B show the circumstance of the second embodiment of the invention having two static terminals. In this embodiment, the static terminals comprise first static terminal 32 having first electricity-contact surface 34 and second static terminal 33 having second electricity-contact surface 35, one of the static terminals is placed at one side of wire connection portion 31 of moveable terminal 30 and another at another side; the electricity-conductive portion of moveable contact arm also includes first electricity-conductive portion 34' and second electricity-conductive portion 35'; they are all at another side (lower surface) of the moveable contact arm and placed respectively at two opposite side relative to wire connection portion 31 ; as shown in the Figure, first contact portion 34", first electricity-conductive portion 34' and first electricity-contact surface 34 will form the first contact region placed at one side of wire connection portion 31 of moveable terminal, second contact portion 35", second electricity-conduct portion 35 and second electricity-contact surface 35 will form the second contact region placed at another side of wire connection portion 31 ; all the corresponding structural members and their positions said above are preferably placed symmetrically at two sides relative to wire connection portion 31. In the meantime, along the transversal direction of the switch set housing, rotational shaft 28 of the starting element is placed close to one side of and rotationally connected with switch set housing 10; the rest of the starting element and the moveable and static terminals inclusive of the button are all offset at one side of the housing relative to rotational shaft 28, wherein touch end 21 is between rotational shaft 28 and supporting end 21 , supporting end 21 is near another side of the housing, thus the width of the switch set along transversal direction has to be determined by the distance between supporting end 21 and the axis of rotational shaft 28. As shown in Figure, pivoting joint 36 for the moveable contact arm is placed between rotational shaft 28 and touch end 21.

The product of the invention in Figure 8A is at first connection position, because interlocking element 14 moves toward the starting element along longitudinal direction of the housing, so that interlock-supporting surface 14' will push supporting end 27 of the starting element and cause starting element 20 rotating round rotational shaft 28, which is rotationally connected with the housing, to said first connection position relative to the housing, in this time executive end 22 of the starting element also presses tightly against first contact portion 34" of contact portion at one side of moveable contact arm 28 along a direction in which starting element 20 is pressed down to cause the moveable contact arm rotating round the top end of wire connection portion 31 (i.e. round pivoting joint) and further to cause second electricity-conduct portion 35' in second contact region electrically disconnecting with second electricity-contact surface 35, and to cause first electricity-conductive portion 34' in first contact region electrically connecting with first electricity-contact surface 34. In the meantime, as shown in Figure 8A it is required that the ratio of the arm of moment L2 for executive end 22 and the axis of rotational shaft 28 to the arm of moment L1 for touch end 21 and the axis of rotational shaft 28 has to be in a certain range, the range of ratio L1/L2 disclosed in the invention is 2.47 to 2.85 approximately, this ratio preferably is taken as 2.79. Under condition of the configuration shown in Figure 8A and a range of ratio L1/L2 said above, the user may press down the touch end of button to complete switchover with a smaller force and shorter traveling distance.

Along longitudinal direction of the switch set housing, touch end is 21 of the starting element placed at the most upper end of button (i.e. the most upper end of the starting element) and beneath cover layer 13 just as shown in Figure 8B. When the starting element is at first position, touch end 21 of the starting element will be close to cover layer 13; when the starting element is at second position, touch end 21 of the starting element will be depart from cover layer 13. The traveling distance of touch end 21 of the button in whole switchover process is D, in the case that the value of ratio L1/L2 is taken in aforesaid range, the varying range of traveling distance D is from 1.3 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably to take D equal to 1.33 mm. But in ordinary button switch set, the value of ratio L1/L2 is about 1.0. Such a shorter traveling distance taken in design will be beneficial to the design of sealing and has a good handle approximately similar to switching a switch electronic touch mode.

In the case of such shorter traveling distance, the operating panel, of which the touch ends of button slightly exposed out, may be sealed with cover layer (usually using a layer of thin polymer film), in order to entirely insulate the interior of interlocking button switch set from living pollutant such as dust oil smoke, moisture, etc., and to prolong the life of the same. Simultaneously, the flat and smooth appearance of such sealed button switch set will be handsome and easy to match with other household electric appliances, as well as facilitate user to clean it.

In Figure 8B, the product of the invention is at second connection position, when touch end 21 of starting of element 20 is pressed down along a direction indicated as arrowhead P to cause the starting element rotating round rotational shaft 28, which is rotationally connected with the housing, to said second connection position relative to the housing, at this time supporting end 27 of the starting element also will push supporting surface 14" of interlocking element 14 (not shown in Figure) in order to cause the interlocking element departing away from starting element 20 along longitudinal direction of the housing. Simultaneously, executive end 22 will press tightly against second contact portion 35" of the contact portion at one side (upper surface) of moveable contact arm 38 along button pressing-down direction indicated as arrowhead P, and further to cause first electricity-conductive portion 34' in first contact region electrically disconnecting with electricity-contact surface 34, the second electricity-conductive portion 35' in second contact region electrically connecting with second electricity-contact surface 35.

By comparing Figures 7A and 7B respectively with Figures 8Aand 8B, it may be seen that the first embodiment of the invention is equivalent to a special case of the second embodiment, namely the case in which the second static terminal is omitted, it is obvious that the second embodiment has more great ability to carry out logic treatment and can meet the requirements of electrical the connection for more electrical appliances.

Additionally, from Figures 8A and 8B, it also may be seen that: in this embodiment both contact portions 34", 35" and both electricity-conductive portions 34', 35' of moveable contact arm 38 are placed respectively at two opposite sides of moveable contact arm 38. Thus under the condition of such configuration arrangement, at one side of wire connection portion, when first contact portion 34" is pressed down by executive end 22, moveable contact arm 38 will rotate round the top end of wire connection portion 31 (i.e. round pivoting joint at the top end), then electricity-conductive portion 34' electrically contacts with first electricity-contact surface 34 of first static terminal 32, which is placed under portion 34', to implement electrical connection, simultaneously at other side of wire connection portion 31 , electricity-conductive portion 35' of moveable contact arm electrically disconnects with electricity-contact surface 35 of second static terminal 33, which is placed under portion 35'.

In the meantime, it also should be noted, the difference of the third embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9A and 9B from the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 8A and 8B is that: as shown in

Figures 9A and 9B, in the case of the third embodiment, both contact portions

34", 35" and both electricity-conductive portions 34', 35' of moveable contact arm 38 all are placed at one side of the moveable contact arm, i.e. at same side as executive end 22 is placed. Thus under the condition of such configuration arrangement, at one side of the wire connection portion, when first contact portion 34" is pressed down by executive end 22, moveable contact arm will rotate round the top end of wire connection portion 31 , then second electricity-conductive portion 35' of the moveable contact arm electrically connects with electricity-contact surface 35 of second static terminal 33, which is placed above portion 35', to implement electrical connection; simultaneously at another side of the wire connection portion, first electricity-conductive portion 34' of the moveable contact arm electrically disconnects with first electricity-contact surface 34 of first static terminal 32, which is placed above portion 34'.

From the description about the second and the third embodiment, it may be seen that in the patent application specification, attributes "first"' and "second" for "static terminal", "electricity-contact surface", "electricity-conductive portion" and "contact portion" are used to explain and distinguish they are only two different structural members or two different positions, with same property and same function. Namely, "first" and "second" are relative, only used to explain and distinguish two different structural members, and not to arrange the orders for these structural members or positions. Although in the second and the third embodiment, the electrical disconnections and electrical connections are described relative to different structural members or positions and determined by the heights of configurative positions of static terminals, yet they are have same technical characteristics, namely contact portions 34"and 35" are at same side (upper surface) of moveable contact arm 38; electricity-conductive portions 34' and 35' also are at same side (upper surface such as in Figures 8A and 8B, or lower surface such as in Figures 9A and 9B) of moveable contact arm 38; static terminals are respectively at two opposite sides relative to wire connection portion 31 ; the moveable contact arm may rotate round the top end of wire connection portion 31 resulted in electrically connecting and electrically disconnecting with relevant static terminal placed respectively. It is different from that of the prior art as shown in Figure 2, wherein contact portions 34"P and 35"P, as well as electricity-conductive portions 34'P and 34"P all are placed respectively at two sides relative to moveable contact arm 38P (34'P and 34"P at one side of the moveable contact arm, 35'P and 35"P are at another side of the moveable contact arm).

Figures 1OA and 1OB show the circumstance of the fourth embodiment of the invention, the difference of this embodiment from the embodiments said above is that: executive end 22 of starting element 20 is formed with a resilient element and may be biased relative to the starting element.

In the fourth embodiment as shown in Figure 10A, at a position of the starting element close to the moveable contact arm (at the lower end of the starting element) is disposed a hole 26 composed of hole wall 24 and hole bottom 25, additionally on the starting element also is disposed restrictive slot 23(not shown in Figure). As shown in the Figure, said hole is set basically along a direction same as that along which the starting element is pressed down, in order to cause one end of the sliding element able to be pressed tightly against spring and another end (i.e. executing end) able to be biased along the axis direction of the hole (basically relative to the direction along which the starting element is pressed down). In Figure 10A, in the hole 26 on the starting element is disposed a helical spring 2, of which one end presses tightly against hole bottom 25 of hole 26 and another end tightly against sliding element 29'. In the case of this embodiment, sliding element 29' adopts a mode of sliding block. One end of the sliding block presses tightly against the helical spring, and anther end tightly against the first contact portion of the moveable contact arm; said sliding block simultaneously has a protruding portion able to be matched with restrictive slot 23 on the starting element in order to ensure that the sliding block always moves along hole wall 24, when starting element 20 is biased by the pressing force of helical spring 29. In this embodiment, when the button is at first connection position, sliding block 29' is pushed to move outward to press tightly against first connection portion of the moveable contact arm, and further to ensure achieving object of a reliable electrical connection. Similarly, when button is at second position as shown in Figure 10B, sliding block 29' is pushed outward to press tightly against second contact portion of the moveable contact arm due to spring force acted along outward direction. In the meantime, the pushing force acted on sliding block 29' preferably may approach maximum when sliding block 29' is at the middle of the moveable contact arm. i.e. at this point the biased distance of executive end is most obvious and both the biased distances of the executive end respectively at two connection positions of the button are smaller, so that during the button of the product of the invention moves from first connection position to second connection position, it causes the compression of spring 29' will varies along the sliding motion of sliding block 29 from small to maximum, and then from maximum to small; simultaneously in this varying course of the compression of spring 29, a silvery snap also may be occurred to hint user the switchover of electrical connection in user's operation whether is completed or not.

Figures 1 OA and 10B show the preferable positions and correlation of the structural members of the switch set of the invention along transversal and altitudinal direction. For adoption of the configuration introduced above, along the transversal direction of the product of the invention, rotational shaft 28 of starting element 20 is at one side of the switch set housing, and supporting end 27 of starting element 20 is at another side of the switch set housing relative the rotational shaft. So that it may ensure the interlocking function may be reliably implemented, because supporting end 27 departs far away from rotational shaft 28. Simultaneously as shown in the Figures, further improvements and optimizations of the invention are: along transversal direction of the switch set housing, the first contact region and the second contact region are placed between said rotational shaft and said supporting end; touch end 21 of starting element 20 also is placed between said rotational shaft 28 and said supporting end 27; those of first contact portion 34" of the first contact region, first electricity-conductive portion 34', first electricity-conductive portion, and first electricity-contact surface 34, and those of second contact portion 35" of the second contact region, second electricity-conductive portion 35' and second electricity-conductive surface 35 are placed respectively at two sides symmetrical to wire connection portion 31 ; Under the precondition to ensure the implementation of reliable interlocking function and that all other structural members of the product of the invention are placed between the rotational shaft and the supporting end, i.e. not placed out of the span between the rotational shaft and the supporting end, these as said above may decrease the transversal size of the switch set to the lowest limit and cause the product of the invention to be more compact and reasonable, then to ensure the switchover of electrical connections able to be implement normally.

Additionally, according to the disclosure of Figures 1OA and 1OB, along the transversal direction of said housing, the distance from pivoting joint to the axis of rotational shat 28 of starting element 20 is smaller than that from touch end 21 of starting element 20 to the axis of rotational shat 28 of starting element 20. The distance from wire connection portion 31 of moveable terminal 30 to the axis of rotational shaft 28 of starting element 20 is larger than that from second terminal 33 to the axis of rotational shaft 28. Second static terminal 33 also is placed close to the side as same as rotational shaft 28 of starting element is placed.

Now, according to Figures 10A and 10B, the relation of the preferable placement of each of the structural members of the product of the invention along altitudinal direction is illustrated. As shown in the Figures, the touch end of the starting element is placed close to the upper end of the housing; first electricity-contact surface 34 and second electricity-contact surface 35 are placed close to the lower end of the housing and symmetrical to wire connection portion 31 of moveable terminal 30. Interlock-supporting surface 14' is placed between rotational shaft 28 of starting element 20 and executive end 22 of starting element 20. The moveable contact arm of moveable terminal 30 is placed between the first and the second electricity-connection surface.

Another relation of the placement of each of the invention along transversal direction and altitudinal direction of the housing is that: moveable terminal 30 and both of first static terminal 32 and second terminal 33 are placed in such a manner that when first electricity-conductive portion 34' of the moveable contact arm of moveable terminal 30 is electrically connected with first electricity-contact surface 34 of first static terminal 32, second electricity-conductive portion 35' of the moveable contact arm will be electrically disconnected with second electricity-conductive surface 35 of second static terminal 33, where the gap for said electrical disconnection is at least equal to 3.0 mm. Such profile of the moveable contact arm and such placement of the static and the moveable terminals may ensure the switchover of electrical connection and electrical disconnection to be safely and reliably implemented under an electrical condition of high voltage

Through the introduction to the correlation of preferable placement for each of the structural members along the transversal and the altitudinal direction described above and in comparison with that of the prior art, the transversal size of the product of the invention may be decreased about 30% to meet the requirement of installation on small-size and compact electric appliances and ensure the switchover of electrical connection and electrical disconnection to be safely and reliably implemented under the working condition of same voltage.

Figures 11 A and 11 B are the sectional views to show the fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein the product of the invention is equipped with indicating element. As shown in the Figures, on starting element 20 is installed indicating element 37, which may move relative to the switch set housing to be at different indicating positions according to the connection position of relevant starting element. Indicating end 37', equipped on indicating element 37, is toward the upper end of the housing; for showing the connection state, at suitable position on the cover layer sealed just above the operating panel at the upper end of the housing correspondingly is opened a transparent and visible indicating window 13'. When starting element 20 is at first connection position relative to the housing, through said transparent and visible indicating window opened on the sealing cover layer, the indicating end of starting element 20 will be at first indicating position to indicate the starting element; When starting element 20 is at second connection position relative to the housing, through said transparent and visible indicating window opened on the sealing cover layer, the indicating end of starting element 20 will be at second indicating position to indicate the starting element.

The further improvement in this embodiment is: the indicating end 37' of indicating element 37 has first indicating region and second indicating region with different colors for distinguishing. When starting element 20 is at first connection position, the first indicating position corresponding to the window is the first indicating region; when starting element 20, is at second connection position, the second indicating position corresponding to the window is the second indicating region. Because the connection states of each button switch unit of the button switch set may be indicated with colored indicator with mechanical mode and configured as said above, so that said indicator does not need to use electricity, and also is intuitionistic and with a long life for use.

As shown in Figures 11 A and 11 B, more further improvement of this embodiment is that: at another end relative to indicating end 37' of indicating element 37 is disposed axle 39 to cause indicating element 37 rotationally connected with the starting element through hinge connection mode; between indicating end 37' and axle 39 is disposed sliding end 40, formed on the indicating element able to slide within slide-guiding slot 40'; said slide-guiding slot is formed on the button switch set housing and along pressing-downward direction of button relative to the button switch set housing. Due to adoption of such configuration, the sliding end formed on indicating element 37 also may slide simultaneously relative to the button switch set housing within slide-guiding slot along with starting element 20 rotates. So that there exists a larger changing range for the position of indicating end relative the button switch housing, then the connection position of the starting element will reliably indicated to the user through indicating window opened on the cover layer.

Figures 12A and 12B are two perspective views to show starting element 20 of the fifth embodiment of the invention along two different directions. From these two Figures, it may be obviously seen that: at the most upper end of starting element 20 is placed the touch end 21 ; at one side of the starting element along transversal direction of the housing is placed supporting end 27; at the side opposite to aforesaid side is placed rotational shaft 28; rotationally connected with the starting element through hinge connection mode is disposed axle 39' for the indicating element; and at the lower portion of the starting element is opened a hole 26 for installing resilient element.

According to above description, the invention may be any individual button switch with a configuration as shown in Figures 7A to 11 B, i.e. an individual button switch unit. Because it is an individual button switch, so there exists no interlocking relation with other buttons in mechanical operation. Even though in such case, the technical configuration (excepting the interlocking element), commonly used for the interlocking button switch set of the invention, yet is adopted by said individual button switch unit to cause it still has a series of technical features, such as small width for compact placement of buttons, the starting element able to implement switchover of electrical connection states safely and reliably, small traveling distance of touch end in switchover process to cause the cover layer able conveniently to be sealed onto the operating panel, and adoption of the transparent and visible window of interlocking button switch set; these are the problems contemplated to solve by the invention.

In the meantime, the invention also may be an interlocking button switch set formed from a plurality of button switches (saying strictly, i.e. a plurality of button switch units) with configuration as shown in Figures 7A to 11 B, and some relevant interlocking structural members able to be matched with said units. The longitudinal placement of the button switch set is shown in Figures 4A to 4C, in the configuration of such button switch set, between any two individual button switch units is disposed interlocking element 14, which may move along longitudinal direction of the button switch set housing, and supporting end 27 of each of button switch units may be matched with interlock-supporting surface 14' of supporting element 14, just as the introduction to Figures 4A to 4C: when each of buttons is pressed down, other buttons all will be put up to implement the interlocking function. The concrete working steps are: when touch end 21 of starting element 20 of any button is pressed down to cause starting element 20 rotating round rotational shaft 28 from first connection position to second connection position relative to the button switch set housing 10, then the moveable contact arm of said switch unit, in which the button is pressed down, will implement electrical disconnection with relevant first static terminal 32 or 32', and electrical connection with relevant second static terminal 33 or 33'; the supporting end of said starting element also will rotate round rotational shaft 28 to push the supporting surface of interlocking element 14, which is matched with said starting element, in order that said interlocking element moves along longitudinal direction, then to push supporting ends 27 of their respective starting elements in all other button switch units; thus the starting elements in all other button switch units will be at first connection position, and the moveable contact arms in all other button switch units will implement electrical disconnection with relevant second static terminal, and electrical connection with relevant first static terminal.

Of course, such interlocking button switch set also may have a reset button, such as BO in Figure 5. The difference of reset button from other buttons is that: when the reset button is pressed down, the other buttons all are put up; furthermore, reset button also is put up to comeback to its initial position by the reset mechanism of itself, such as the putting-up is achieved by a safe and reliable reset spring, which is able to cause all buttons of the interlocking button switch set, inclusive of the reset button, being in putting-up state.

Additionally, the invention also may be an interlocking multiple button switch set, the layout of such interlocking multiple button switch set in its housing is as that shown in Figures 4D to 4F. In the interior of each interlocking button switch set in such interlocking multiple button switch set may be implemented an assigned interlocking function. Because there is no interlocking element disposed between any two interlocking button switch sets, so that there yields no interlocking action. Such interlocking multiple button switch set may be more suitable for the extensive requirement of electrical connection.

Obviously, aforesaid interlocking multiple button switch set and interlocking button switch set, for which the configuration disclosed by the invention is used, not only has ability to implement interlocking function, but also has a series of technical features, such as small width for compact placement of buttons, the starting element able to implement switchover of electrical connection states safely and reliably, small traveling distance of touch end in switchover process to cause the cover layer able conveniently to be sealed onto the operating panel, and adoption of the transparent and visible window of interlocking button switch set; these are the problems contemplated to solve by the invention.

In this specification, some preferable embodiments of the invention are disclosed through above description associated with drawings for reference.

But it is not intended to limit the protective scope of the invention only in these disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in this art know that for the invention there may exist more variations, modifications, or other equivalents. So that such configurative variations and substitutions without creativeness all will fall into the claim scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A button switch, wherein said button switch comprising: switch housing (10); starting element (20), wherein said starting element comprising: rotational shaft (28) disposed close to one side of and rotationally connected with said switch housing (10) to cause said starting element (20) having a first connection position and a second position relative to said switch housing (10); touch end (21) used to cause said starting element (20) able to rotate round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to said switch housing (10); supporting end (27) used to cause said starting element (20) able to rotate round said rotational shaft (28) from second connection position to first connection position relative to said switch housing (10); and executive end (22); static terminals (32, 33 or 32', 33') and moveable terminal (30) disposed on said switch housing (10); wherein said moveable terminal (30) comprising: wire connection portion (31) disposed on said switch housing (10) and moveable contact arm (38) rotationally connected with said wire connection portion (31) through pivoting joint (36) placed at the top end of said wire connection portion (31) and positioned at middle of said moveable contact arm (38); said moveable contact arm (38) comprising: electricity-contact portions (34", 35") placed at one side (upper surface) of said moveable contact arm (38) and able to contact with and bear the pressing force acted by said executive end (22), electricity-conductive portions (34', 35') able to electrically connect with relevant one of said static terminals and placed at another side of said moveable contact arm (38); said static terminals comprising first static terminal (32 or 32') and second static terminal (33 or 33') placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to said wire connection portion (31) of said moveable terminal (30); when touch end (21 ) of said starting element (20) is pressed down to cause said starting element (20) rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to said button switch housing (10), then said moveable contact arm will implement electrical disconnection with first static terminal (32 or 32') and electrical connection with second static terminal (33 or 33'); when supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) is pushed to cause said starting element (20) rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from second connection position to first connection position relative to said button switch housing (10), then said moveable contact arm will implement electrical disconnection with second static terminal (33 or 33') and electrical connection with first static terminal (32 or 32').

2. The button switch according to claim 1 , which is characterized in that: electricity-contact portions (34", 35") and electricity-conductive (34', 35') of said moveable contact arm (38) are placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to said moveable contact arm (38).

3. The button switch according to claim 1 or 2, which is characterized in that: supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) is placed at another side of said switch housing (10) relative to said rotational shaft (28).

4. The button switch according to claim 3, which is characterized in that: touch end (21) and supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) are both placed at same side relative to said rotational shaft (28) to cause said touch end (21 ) and said supporting end (27) able to rotate round said rotational shaft (28) at same side relative to said rotational shaft (28).

5. The button switch according to claim 4, which is characterized in that: along the transversal direction of said button switch housing, said touch end (21) is disposed between said rotational shaft (28) and said supporting end (27).

6. The button switch according to claim 4 or 5, which is characterized in that: along the transversal direction of said button switch housing, said pivoting joint (36) of said moveable contact arm (38) is disposed between said rotational shaft (28) and said touch end (21).

7. The button switch according to claim 6, which is characterized in that: along the longitudinal direction of said button switch housing, touch end (21) of said starting element is placed at the most upper end of said starting element (20).

8. The button switch according to claim 7, which is characterized in that: the elastic cover layer (13) for sealing is disposed on the upper surface of said button switch housing (10).

9. The button switch according to claim 8, which is characterized in that: said touch end (21 ) of said starting element (20) is disposed beneath the lower surface of said cover layer (13), when said starting element (20) is at first connection position, said touch end (21) is close to the lower surface of said cover layer (13); when said starting element (20) is at second connection position, said touch end (21 ) is depart away from the lower surface of said cover layer.

10. Any one of said button switch according to claim 9, which is characterized in that: during said starting element (20) rotating from first connection position to second connection position, the range of the traveling distance of said touch end (21 ) relative to said thin film cover layer (13) is from 1.3 mm to 1.5 mm.

11. The button switch according to claim 10, which is characterized in that: said traveling distance is approximately equal to 1.33 mm.

12. The button switch according to any one of claims 7-11 , which is characterized in that: the range of the ratio of arm of moment for said executive end (22) rotating round the axis of said rotational shaft (28) to arm of moment for said touch end (21) round the axis of said rotational shaft (28) is from 2.47 to 2.85.

13. The button switch according to claim 12, which is characterized in that: the ratio of the arm of moment for said executive end (22) rotating round the axis of said rotational shaft (28) to the arm of moment for said touch end (21) round the axis of said rotational shaft (28) is 2.79.

14. The button switch according to claim 8 or 9, which is characterized in that: on said starting element (20) is installed indicating element (37) able to move relative to said button switch housing (10); said indicating element (37) has indicating end (37') set toward the upper end of said button switch housing (10); transparent and visible indicating window (13') is opened on said cover layer (13) at a position corresponding to said indicating end (37'); when said starting element (20) is at first connection position relative to said button switch housing (10), said indicating end (37') will be at first indicating position relative to said transparent and visible indicating window (13'); when said starting element (20) is at second connection position relative to said button switch housing (10), said indicating end (37') will be at second indicating position relative to said transparent and visible indicating window (13').

15. The button switch according to claim 14, which is characterized in that: said indicating end (37') has different colors to distinguish the first indicating region and the second indicating region; when said starting element (20) is at first connection position relative to said button switch housing (10), said first indicating position corresponding to said transparent and visible indicating window (13') is the first indicating region; when said starting element (20) is at second connection position relative to said button switch housing (10), said second indicating position corresponding to said transparent and visible indicating window (13') is the second indicating region.

16. The button switch according to claim 15, which is characterized in that: said indicating element (37) has axle (39) rotationally connected with said starting element and sliding end (40), sliding end (40) is placed between said indicating end (37') and said axle (39), and also may slide relative to said button switch housing (10).

17. An interlocking button switch set, wherein said button switch set comprising: button witch set housing (10); a plurality of button switch units installed in said button switch housing (10), each of said button switch unit comprising: starting element (20), wherein said starting element (20) comprising: rotational shaft (28) disposed close to one side of and rotationally connected with said button switch set housing (10) to cause said starting element (20) having a first connection position and a second position relative to said switch housing (10); touch end (21) used to cause said starting element (20) able to rotate round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to said button switch set housing (10); supporting end (27) used to cause said starting element (20) able to rotate round said rotational shaft (28) from second connection position to first connection position relative to said button switch set housing (10); and executive end (22); static terminals (32,33 or 32', 33') and moveable terminal (30) disposed on said button switch set housing (10), wherein said moveable terminal (30) comprising: wire connection portion (31) disposed on said button switch set housing (10) and moveable contact arm (38) rotationally connected with said wire connection portion (31) through pivoting joint placed at the top end of said wire connection portion (31) and positioned at middle of said moveable contact arm (38) ; said moveable contact arm (38) comprising: electricity-contact portions (34".35") placed at one side (upper surface) of said moveable contact arm (38) and able to contact with and bear the pressing force acted by said executive end (22), electricity-conductive portions (34', 35') able to electrically connect with relevant one of said static terminals and placed at another side of said moveable contact arm (38); said static terminals comprising first static terminal (32 or 32') and second static terminal (33 or 33') placed respectively at two opposite sides relative to said wire connection portion (31 ) of said moveable terminal (30); interlocking element (14) in button switch set housing (10), said interlocking element (14) is disposed between any two adjacent button switch unit and able to move along said button switch set housing, said interlocking element (14) also has interlock-supporting surface (14') matched with adjacent supporting end (27) of said starting element (20); said button switch unit and said interlocking element (14) are configured in such manner in said button switch housing: when touch end (21 ) of any said button switch unit in said interlocking button switch set is pressed down to cause said starting element (20) rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to button switch set housing (10), said moveable contact arm (38) of this button switch unit will electrically disconnect with first static terminal (32 or 32') and electrically connect with second static terminal (33 or 33'); in the meantime, said supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) pushes said interlock-supporting surface (14') of said interlocking element (14), which is matched with said supporting end (27), to cause said interlocking element (14) moving along longitudinal direction, then said interlocking element (14) pushes relevant supporting ends (27) in other said button switch units to cause relevant starting elements (20) in other said button switch units all to be at first connection position, so that relevant moveable contact arms (38) in other said button switch units electrically disconnects with second static terminal (33 or 33')and electrically connects with first static terminal (32 or 32'); when said touch end (21) of any said button switch unit in said interlocking button switch set, which already was at first connect position, is pressed down to cause said starting element (20) rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to said button switch set housing (10), said moveable contact arm (38) of this button switch unit will electrically disconnect with first static terminal (32 or 32') and electrically connect with second static terminal (33 or 33'); in the meantime, said supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) pushes said interlock-supporting surface (14') of said supporting end (27), which is matched with said supporting end (27), to cause said interlocking element (14) moving along longitudinal direction, then said interlocking element (14) pushes relevant supporting ends (27) in other said button switch units to cause relevant starting elements (20) in other said button switch units, which already was at second connect position, rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from second connection position to first connection position relative to said button switch set housing (10), so that relevant moveable contact arms (38) in other said button switch units electrically disconnects with second static terminal (33 or 33')and electrically connects with first static terminal (32 or 32').

18. An interlocking multiple button switch set, wherein said interlocking multiple button switch set comprising: multiple button switch set housing (10); a plurality of interlocking button switch sets installed in said multiple button switch set housing (10), each of said interlocking button switch sets comprising: a plurality of button switch units as described in claim 15 and a plurality of interlocking element (14) as described in claim 15; said button switch units and said interlocking elements (14) of each interlocking button switch set are configured in such manner in multiple button switch set housing (10): when said touch end (21) of any said button switch unit in said interlocking button switch set is pressed down to cause said starting element (20) rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to multiple button switch set housing (10), said moveable contact arm (38) of this button switch unit will electrically disconnect with first static terminal (32 or 32') and electrically connect with second static terminal (33 or 33'); in the meantime, said supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) pushes said interlock-supporting surface (14') of said interlocking element (14), which is matched with said supporting end (27), to cause said interlocking element (14) moving along longitudinal direction, then said interlocking element (14) pushes relevant supporting ends (27) in other said button switch units to cause relevant starting elements (20) in other said button switch units all to be at first connection position, so that relevant moveable contact arms (38) in other said button switch units electrically disconnects with second static terminal (33 or 33') and electrically connects with first static terminal (32 or 32'); when said touch end (21) of any said button switch unit in said interlocking button switch set, which already was at first connect position, is pressed down to cause said starting element (20) rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from first connection position to second connection position relative to said button switch set housing (10), said moveable contact arm (38) of this button switch unit will electrically disconnect with first static terminal (32 or 32') and electrically connect with second static terminal (33 or 33'); in the meantime, said supporting end (27) of said starting element (20) pushes said interlock-supporting surface (14') of said supporting end (14), which is matched with said supporting end (27), to cause said interlocking element (14) moving along longitudinal direction, then said interlocking element (14) pushes relevant supporting ends (27) in other said button switch units to cause relevant starting elements (20) in other said button switch units, which already was at second connect position, rotating round said rotational shaft (28) from second connection position to first connection position relative to said multiple button switch set housing (10), so that relevant moveable contact arms (38) in other said button switch units electrically disconnects with second static terminal (33 or 33') and electrically connects with first static terminal (32 or 32').