WO2018172924A1

WO2018172924A1 - A control device assembly and at least one microswitch

Info

Publication number: WO2018172924A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/051846
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Barile
Original assignee: Bitron S.P.A.
Priority date: 2017-03-22
Filing date: 2018-03-20
Publication date: 2018-09-27
Also published as: DE112018001484T5; IT201700031514A1

Abstract

Assembly comprising a control device (2) and at least one microswitch (6). Said microswitch (6) comprising: an external casing (61); and a key (62). Said control device (2) comprising: at least one actuator element (5), being adapted to abut against said key (62) of the microswitch (6); at least one thrust element (3), being adapted to move said at least one actuator element (5) by exerting a force; and at least one first elastic element (7), being adapted to deform when the force exerted by said thrust element (3) towards the same first elastic element (7) reaches a predetermined value. Said actuator element (5) and said first elastic element (7) are made as one piece. Said elastic element (7) is at least one silicone bubble.

Description

A CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY AND AT LEAST ONE MICROSWITCH

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a control device and at least one microswitch, wherein said control device comprises an elastic element capable of directly actuating said at least one microswitch .

Push-buttons are known which comprise at least one key, whether of the sliding or tilting type, and at least one switch or diverter adapted for selectively opening and closing, or diverting, electric circuits with which such push-buttons are associated.

The switches known in the art may have visible contacts or may be integrated into electronic devices such as, for example, microswitches .

Said microswitches comprise an external casing, a key and a lever system for switching, when the key is pressed, the electric contacts of the switches and/or diverters comprised therein.

The switching of the switches comprised in the microswitch occurs in a substantially instantaneous manner, since it is ensured that all switches comprised therein will switch within a time interval of less than 20 msec. For this reason, they are largely used in the automotive industry, where operating and safety specifications require such a high contact switching speed.

Microswitches are known for the fact that a short travel of the key results in a great displacement of the contacts of the switches included in the microswitch. This feature, however, disagrees with the car manufacturers' latest production specifications, which increasingly require that specific sensory feedback or feeling be returned to the user as the latter presses a key .

In fact, in many applications it is requested that a certain level of resistance be perceived by the user during the movement of the key, until the switches are actually switched .

In this regard, technical solutions are known wherein the actuator element, which is adapted to act upon the key of the microswitch, is an element that can make a movement, whether a rotational, translational or roto-translational movement depending on specific requirements, in order to press the key of the microswitch. The movement of such actuator element is normally caused by a thrust element directly connected to the key of the push-button in which the assembly is comprised. Moreover, the movement of the actuator element is normally countered by an elastic element, distinct from the actuator element and/or from the thrust element, for the purpose of providing the required sensory effect while the user is acting upon the key of the push-button .

In particular, the elastic element is used for the sole purpose of ensuring a predetermined force/displacement progression of the key of the push-button as pressure is exerted by a user.

The desired progression is increasingly similar to that of a silicone bubble, while in some cases it is necessary to ensure a predetermined curve to ensure that the user will perceive a desired tactile effect or feeling. Such solutions require the implementation of a large number of components, which have to be appropriately assembled together to provide the required electric characteristics as well as the desired tactile effect.

Solutions are known wherein metal elements are implemented which can actuate a microswitch upon receiving a thrust force. However, such solutions do not allow obtaining a desired force/displacement progression, in that such characteristics are difficult to determine in a predictive and reproducible manner.

The present invention aims at solving the above- mentioned technical problems by providing an assembly comprising a control device and at least one microswitch with a reduced number of components, wherein the electric characteristics remain unchanged but the desired tactile effect can be obtained.

One aspect of the present invention relates to an assembly having the technical features set out in the appended independent claim 1.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a push-button having the features set out in the appended claim 9.

Auxiliary features of the assembly and of the pushbutton are set out in respective dependent claims appended hereto .

The features and advantages of the assembly and of the push-button will become apparent in the light of the following description of several possible embodiments and of the annexed drawings, wherein:

• Figures 1A-1C show, in a sectional view, a first embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention in three different operating configurations; in particular, Figure 1A shows the control device and a microswitch in an idle configuration; Figure IB shows the control device in a switching configuration, in which it ensures the switching of the contacts of the microswitch; and Figure 1C shows an intermediate configuration of the assembly, between the idle configuration and the switching configuration;

• Figure 2 shows a force/displacement graph indicating some possible sensory responses that may be implemented through the assembly according to the present invention;

• Figure 3 shows, in a sectional view relative to a vertical plane, a further embodiment of the assembly, wherein the thrust element is a lever system, adapted to exert a force towards the actuator element, and wherein a quick-snap elastic system is also comprised;

• Figure 4 shows, in a sectional view relative to a vertical plane, a further embodiment, wherein the thrust element is constrained to a key of a push-button, wherein the key is adapted to make a tilting movement, and wherein a quick-snap elastic system is also comprised;

• Figure 5 shows, in a sectional view relative to a vertical plane, a further embodiment, wherein the thrust element is constrained to a key adapted to make a tilting movement, similarly to the embodiment of Figure 4, and wherein only one elastic element is comprised for each portion of the control device;

• Figure 6 shows, in a sectional view relative to a vertical plane, the embodiment of the assembly shown in Figures 1A-1C applied to a push-button. With reference to the above-listed drawings, the assembly according to the present invention comprises a control device 2 and at least one microswitch 6.

Said microswitch 6 in turn comprises: an external casing 61; and a key 62.

Said control device 2 in turn comprises: at least one actuator element 5, being adapted to abut against said key 62 of microswitch 6; at least one thrust element 3, being adapted to move said at least one actuator element 5 by exerting a force.

Said control device 2 further comprises at least one first elastic element 7, being adapted to deform when the force exerted by said thrust element 3 towards the same first elastic element 7 reaches a predetermined value.

In the assembly according to the present invention, said actuator element 5 and said first elastic element 7 are made as one piece.

Said elastic element 7 is at least one silicone bubble .

Silicone bubble 7 provides the desired force/displacement progression, for the purpose of obtaining the desired feeling for the user.

For the purposes of the present description, the term "feeling" refers to the force and displacement perceived by the user as he/she operates a key in order to switch one or more microswitches .

In the assembly according to the present invention, control device 2 allows operating microswitch 6, while at the same time obtaining the desired feeling, by applying a force, through said thrust element 3, towards said actuator element 5 and said first elastic element 7, which are made as one piece.

For the purposes of the present description, the expression "as one piece" refers to the fact that the object, e.g. resulting from a combination of elements, cannot be disassembled or separated without irremediably jeopardizing, at least partly, the operation of the object itself .

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, said actuator element 5 is incorporated into said first elastic element 7.

In said embodiment, said elastic element 7 is positioned above said key 62.

In this embodiment, due to the compact conformation of control device 2, microswitch 6 can be operated while providing the desired feeling. In particular, control device 2 allows applying a force to one object only, since actuator element 5 and the first elastic element 7 are made as one piece.

In the preferred embodiment, silicone bubble 7 is aligned with key 62 of microswitch 6, with respect to a vertical axis "Z". In this embodiment, said actuator element 5 is positioned below said elastic element 7.

In one possible, but non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, said control device 2 comprises a second elastic element 4.

Said second elastic element 4 is adapted to: compress while accumulating energy from the force exerted by said thrust element 3; and extend again following the deformation of said at least one first elastic element 7. The extension of the second elastic element 4 accelerates the motion of actuator element 5 towards said microswitch 6.

In one possible embodiment, said actuator element 5, said first elastic element 7 and said second elastic element 4 are made as one piece.

In general, said actuator element 5 is arranged above microswitch 6, with respect to a vertical axis "Z", for the purpose of selectively closing and opening electric contacts of at least one microswitch 6 by acting thereupon preferably through a movement substantially along said vertical axis "Z".

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "microswitch" refers to an electric switch capable of breaking and/or diverting electric currents; said switch being a separate device that can be connected to an electronic circuit.

Preferably, said microswitch 6 is designed in such a way that the switching of the contacts of the two switches contained therein occurs with a time delay of less than 20 msec .

Said microswitch 6 is electrically connected to a printed circuit board 8, e.g. by soldering. The same printed circuit board 8 is electrically connected to a connector to allow the assembly to be connected to an electronic circuit, in particular for connecting a pushbutton comprising the assembly according to the present invention to an electronic circuit.

In the preferred embodiment, said at least one second elastic element 4 is a silicone bubble or dome. More preferably, said first elastic element 7 and said second elastic element 4 are made of silicone-based material; preferably, said first elastic element 7 and said second elastic element 4 are formed on a single silicone mat 71.

In general, said second elastic element 4 is interposed between said actuator element 5 and said thrust element 3.

In the preferred embodiment, said second elastic element 4 is positioned above the first elastic element 7, which in turn is positioned above actuator element 5, all such elements being preferably aligned with respect to a vertical axis "Z". In this latter embodiment, said second elastic element 4 and said first elastic element 7 are interposed between actuator element 5 and thrust element 3.

In the preferred embodiment, said first elastic element 7 and said second elastic element 4 are two silicone bubbles. Such silicone bubbles will have different behaviours in terms of force/displacement response.

Preferably, said two silicone bubbles (4, 7) are superimposed, with opposite concavity. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "concavity" refers to the portion that defines the sunken part of the silicone bubble, which gives it the typical dome-like shape.

In the preferred embodiment, the silicone bubble associated with the second elastic element 4 is positioned above the silicone bubble associated with the first elastic element 7, wherein the two bubbles have opposite concavity. Preferably, the silicone bubble associated with the first elastic element 7 faces towards actuator element 5; on the contrary, the concavity of the silicone bubble associated with the second elastic element 4 faces upwards, towards thrust element 3. Preferably, the respective tops of the bubble of the first elastic element 7 and of the bubble of the second elastic element 4 are joined together.

Preferably, the elastic characteristic of the second elastic element 4 differs from the elastic characteristic of the first elastic element 7, for the purpose of obtaining a device that will operate in a deterministic manner .

In general, said actuator element 5 comprises a contact portion 52 adapted to abut against at least a part of microswitch 6, and in particular against key 62, in order to allow the latter to switch.

The same actuator element 5 further comprises a connection portion 51, which provides the connection between actuator element 5 and the elements of the control device according to the present invention. Therefore, said fastening portion 51 allows for a direct connection between actuator element 5 and the first elastic element 7.

In general, the assembly according to the present invention is particularly adapted for implementation in push-buttons for electronic circuits. Such push-buttons comprise at least one key 1, e.g. one or more keys, which can be operated by a user; and a support structure 11 adapted to contain at least one assembly according to the present invention.

In a first embodiment of the push-button, key 1 can slide along a vertical axis. When pressed, therefore, key 1 will slide along an axis, in particular along said vertical axis "Z".

In an alternative embodiment of the push-button, said key 1 is adapted to turn about a horizontal axis "X". Said horizontal axis being perpendicular to said vertical axis "Z". In this embodiment, key 1 is horizontally-pivoted. Depending on the direction, sense and/or point of application of the force, key 1 will turn about said horizontal axis "X" in the corresponding direction. In this embodiment, a different control device 2 can be actuated, as a function of the sense of rotation of key 1, for switching a respective microswitch 6.

In one possible embodiment of control device 2, said thrust element 3 is adapted to slide along a vertical axis "Z". Preferably, said thrust element 3 comprises guides 31 adapted to slide along rails. Said rails may be comprises in an inner cavity defined by the support structure 11 of a push-button .

In alternative embodiments, said thrust element 3 is implemented by means of lever systems, moving in a rotational or roto-translat ional manner relative to a horizontal axis "X" , which defines the lever fulcrum.

In one possible embodiment of control device 2, said thrust element 3 can turn about at least one horizontal axis "X" .

In general, thrust element 3 comprises an abutment portion 33 adapted to abut against at least one of said second elastic element 4 and said first elastic element 7.

In one possible embodiment, said thrust element 3 comprises at least one fitting portion 32 adapted to be coupled, e.g. in a removable manner, to a corresponding portion comprised in said key 1. In this embodiment, thrust element 3 can move integrally with key 1.

In alternative embodiments, said thrust element 3 is not constrained to key 1, and therefore thrust element 3 will not move integrally with key 1. In yet another embodiment, thrust element 3 is made as one piece together with said key 1.

For the purposes of the present description, hereinafter the silicone bubble associated with the first elastic element 7 will be referred to as first silicone bubble 7, while the silicone bubble associated with the second elastic element 4 will be referred to as second silicone bubble 4.

Figures 1A-1C show, in a sectional view, a first embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention in three different operating configurations; in particular, Figure 1A shows control device 2 and a microswitch 6 in an idle configuration; Figure IB shows control device 2 in a switching configuration, in which it ensures the switching of the contacts of microswitch 6; and Figure 1C shows an intermediate configuration of control device 2, between the idle configuration and the switching configuration .

In the illustrated embodiment, in the idle operating configuration the first silicone bubble 7 is raised, as opposed to collapsed, and the second silicone bubble 4 is extended, as opposed to collapsed, thus acting as a spacer between said actuator element 5 and microswitch 6, and between thrust element 3 and actuator element 5.

The gravity forces exerted on the first silicone bubble 7 and the second silicone bubble 4 by thrust element 3 and actuator element 5 are such that they will not cause them to compress or collapse.

Control device 2 according to the present invention will remain in the idle operating configuration until a force is applied to said thrust element 3; for example, until a force is exerted on key 1.

Figure 1C shows an intermediate or loading configuration taken by control device 2 during the transition between the idle configuration and the switching configuration. When a force is exerted on thrust element 3, control device 2 will take an intermediate or loading operating configuration before reaching the switching operating configuration.

In the intermediate or loading operating configuration, the force exerted on thrust element 3, instead of being directly transmitted to actuator element

5, thereby compressing the first silicone bubble 7, is accumulated in the second silicone bubble 4, which will thus be compressed. This behaviour translates into a linear initial tract of the force/displacement graph, with a reduced slope of the curve compared to that of a single silicone bubble, as shown in Figure 2.

Due to the compression of the second silicone bubble 4, as a force keeps being exerted on thrust element 3 the same force will be transferred to the first silicone bubble 7. The force directly applied to the first silicone bubble 7 will in turn be accumulated until a predetermined force level is reached, at which the first silicone bubble 7 will collapse, thereby bringing control device 2 into the switching operating configuration.

As the first silicone bubble 7 collapses, actuator element 5 will come in contact with key 62 of microswitch

6, thus causing the microswitch to switch 6 and getting into the operating configuration shown in Figure IB. During this transition, actuator element 5 moves towards said microswitch 6 faster than the speed at which said thrust element 3 is moved and/or the speed at which the first silicone bubble 7 collapses, because of the energy released by the second silicone bubble 4 as it extends .

In the force/displacement graph shown in Figure 2, this behaviour translates, the applied force being equal, into a greater displacement, resulting in better feeling on control device 2.

Therefore, after the first silicone bubble 7 has collapsed, the second silicone bubble 4 can extend and release the energy accumulated during the loading operating configuration. The energy is released in the direction of said microswitch 6, thus accelerating the speed at which actuator element 5 moves towards said microswitch 6, because the speed at which the first silicone bubble 7 collapses will increase.

In the force/displacement graph, this behaviour translates into a deferment of the snap or collapse point of the first silicone bubble 7, and especially into a very fast change from maximum reaction to minimum reaction of the first silicone bubble 7.

The energy released as the second silicone bubble 4 extends will cause actuator element 5 to receive such an acceleration that control device 2 will quickly get into the switching operating configuration, wherein the first silicone bubble 7 is collapsed, even without any further movement of thrust element 3. In this operating configuration, actuator element 5 compresses key 62 of microswitch 6, resulting in microswitch 6 switching its contacts and the switches contained therein.

Figure IB shows the device in a switching configuration, wherein it ensures the switching of the contacts comprised in microswitch 6; in particular, actuator element 5 will cause the contacts comprised in microswitch 6 to switch, going from open to closed and vice versa .

When actuator element 5 comes in contact with microswitch 6, and in particular with said key 62, thereby causing the same microswitch 6 to switch, the travel of control device 2 will stop. The end-of-travel point of control device 2 can be defined by means of a mechanical stopper, which may be applied to thrust element 3, in order to prevent it from moving any farther, or to key 1, or by means of elastic elements, which can absorb the thrust energy generated by thrust element 3 and prevent the latter from moving any farther along the vertical axis "Z"; for example, any further travel of thrust element 3 can be absorbed again by the second silicone bubble 4, with neither microswitch 6 nor control device 2 suffering any damage, e.g. the first silicone bubble 7 or actuator element 5.

When no force is applied to thrust element 3 anymore, control device 2 according to the present invention will return into the idle operating configuration thanks to the elastic energy of the first silicone bubble 7 and/or of the second silicone bubble 4. The return curve, shown in Figure 2, shows substantially linear sections. Microswitch 6 itself will co-operate to bring the device back into the idle configuration as the application of a force onto thrust element 3 stops.

Any return energy in excess, e.g. released by the first silicone bubble 7, will be absorbed by the second silicone bubble 4, thus making the last section of the force/displacement curve linear and avoiding any resonance phenomena in the device itself, since any residual energy will be readily attenuated.

In alternative embodiments of control device 2 not including said second elastic element, the behaviour of the control device will be similar to that shown in Figure 2, in comparison with the above-mentioned graph.

In particular, the absence of the second elastic element 4 will cause any energy to be accumulated only by the silicone bubble associated with the first elastic element 7. Therefore, the speed at which that silicone bubble will collapse will be the characteristic collapse speed of a silicone bubble according to its design specifications, since no elastic element is present which can release pre-accumulated energy in order to accelerate the collapse speed of silicone bubble 7 and increase the speed at which actuator element 5 will act upon key 62 of microswitch 6.

Figure 2 shows a force/displacement graph indicating some possible sensory responses that may be implemented through the assembly according to the present invention. In particular, such graphs show the force/displacement responses that may be implemented in a control device 2 according to the present invention.

Figure 2 also clearly shows that the elastic contribution of microswitch 6 essentially does not affect the general behaviour of the device during its key phases. In fact, the dominant behaviour of the device is given by the combination of the two elastic elements (7, 4), in the case of the continuous-line graph, or by the first elastic element 7 alone, in the case of the dashed-line graph.

The sensory response indicated with a continuous line is the response that can be obtained from the embodiments of control device 2 shown in Figures 1A-1C, 3, 4 and 6. Such embodiments share the second elastic element 4.

The sensory response indicated with a dashed line is the response that can be obtained from the embodiment of control device 2 shown in Figure 5. Such an embodiment does not include any other elastic elements in addition to silicone bubble 7. Therefore, the graph curve will substantially depend only on the design specifications of silicone bubble 7.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view, with reference to a vertical plane, of an alternative embodiment of a pushbutton comprising an assembly according to the present invention. In this embodiment, thrust element 3 is a lever element adapted to exert a force towards actuator element 5.

Said thrust element 3 is adapted to turn about horizontal axes "X" . In particular, it is adapted to turn about two horizontal axes "X" .

In this embodiment, the assembly is associated with a push-button with two keys 1. The assembly comprises two microswitches 6, each one actuated by a respective actuator element 5 incorporated into a respective silicone bubble 7. Thrust element 3 is shared between the two portions of control device 2, each one capable of actuating a respective microswitch 6.

As can be seen in the drawing, depending on which key 1 is pressed, thrust element 3 will be able to turn about one specific horizontal axis "X" . In particular, the axis of rotation of thrust element 3 will be in proximity to, preferably coinciding with, the first elastic element 7, or the second elastic element 4, corresponding to actuator element 5 opposite to the one acting upon key 62 of microswitch 6 associated with key 1 that has been pressed. In fact, the axis of rotation of thrust element 3 will be in proximity to, preferably coinciding with, the first elastic element 7, or the second elastic element 4, of actuator element 5 which is adapted to act upon microswitch 6 other than the one that must be activated when specific key 1 is pressed. This embodiment provides a further reduction in the number of components of the assemblies included in a push-button.

This embodiment shows a control device comprising a second elastic element 4. Such a control device 2 can ensure a fast snapping action in accordance with the force/displacement progression illustrated in the continuous-line graph of Figure 2.

Control device 2 could appropriately operate the associated microswitch 6, according to key 1 that has been pressed, even in the absence of said second elastic elements 4. As a matter of fact, in such a case the progression of the force/displacement graph of control device 2 would be substantially similar to the dashed-line graph of Figure 2. In the illustrated embodiment, said thrust element 3 weighs directly upon the silicone bubbles (7 and/or 4), without requiring the use of any pivoting or guiding elements for its movement.

In the illustrated embodiment, if both keys 2 are pressed simultaneously, said thrust element 3 will make a substantially straight movement relative to said vertical axis "Z", thus exerting a force that will move both actuator elements 5, thereby actuating both microswitches 6.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view, with respect to a vertical plane, of a further embodiment of the assembly, applied to a push-button. In this embodiment, thrust element 3 is constrained to a key 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the push-button comprises a single key 1 adapted to move in a tilting way. The push-button shown in Figure 4 includes two assemblies according to the present invention. Depending on the direction of movement of key 1 relative to horizontal axis "X", a specific assembly will be actuated. In the illustrated embodiment, both thrust elements 3 are constrained to key 1, e.g. they may be made as one piece.

The present embodiment further comprises one second elastic element 4 for each control device 2, thus ensuring a quick snapping action of control device 2.

Therefore, thrust element 3 will exert a force on the corresponding second elastic element 4, thereby providing a feeling in accordance with the continuous-line graph shown in Figure 2, as previously specified.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view with respect to a vertical plane of a further embodiment of the assembly, which is similar to the embodiment of Figure 4, wherein said second elastic element 4 is absent. In such an embodiment, thrust element 3 exerts a force directly on the first elastic element 7. Said first elastic element 7, implemented as a silicone bubble, will collapse when a predefined value of the applied force is reached, in accordance with the dashed-line graph shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view, with respect to a vertical plane, of a push-button comprising the assembly shown in Figures 1A-1C. Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment wherein thrust element 3 is removably secured to key 1 by means of fitting portions 32.

Thanks to guides 31, said thrust element 3 is adapted to slide along rails formed in support structure 11 of the push-button .

In this embodiment, abutment portion 33 acts upon second silicone bubble 4, the concavity of which is opposite to that of the first silicone bubble 7.

The assembly according to the present invention comprises a control device 2, which comprises at least one elastic element (7, 5) capable of directly actuating said at least one microswitch 6.

The assembly according to the present invention provides the user, in a simple manner, with specific sensory feedback or feeling when a key is pressed, even when microswitches 6 are used.

In the present invention, the elastic element is not only used for ensuring a predetermined force/displacement progression of the key of the push-button when pressure is exerted by a user, since it also performs an active function in pressing key 62 of a microswitch 6. The present invention allows obtaining the desired force/displacement progression to ensure that the user will perceive a desired tactile effect or feeling, while considerably reducing the number of components that need to be appropriately assembled together to obtain the desired electric and sensorial characteristics.

REFERENCE NUMERALS:

Key 1

Support structure 11

Control device 2

Thrust element 3

First guides 31

Fitting portion 32

Abutment portion 33

Second elastic element 4

Actuator element 5

Connection portion 51

Contact portion 52

Microswitch 6

External casing 61

Key 62

First elastic element 7

Silicone mat 71

Printed circuit board 8

Horizontal axis "X"

Vertical axis "Z"

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Assembly comprising a control device (2) and at least one microswitch (6);

said microswitch (6) comprising:

- an external casing (61); and

a key (62) ;

said control device (2) comprising:

- at least one actuator element (5), being adapted to abut against said key (62) of the microswitch (6);

- at least one thrust element (3), being adapted to move said at least one actuator element (5) by exerting a force;

- at least one first elastic element (7), being adapted to deform when the force exerted by said thrust element (3) towards the same first elastic element (7) reaches a predetermined value;

characterized in that:

- said actuator element (5) and said first elastic element (7) are made as one piece; and in that

- said elastic element (7) is at least one silicone bubble.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

- said actuator element (5) is incorporated into said first elastic element (7);

- said elastic element (7) is positioned above said key (62) .

3. Assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one silicone bubble (7) is aligned with the key (62) of the microswitch (6) with respect to a vertical axis (Z) .

4. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said control device (2) comprises a second elastic element (4) adapted to: - compress while accumulating energy from the force exerted by said thrust element (3); and

- extend again following the deformation of said at least one first elastic element (7), the extension of the second elastic element accelerating the motion of the actuator element (5) towards said switch (6) .

5. Assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second elastic element (4) is interposed between said actuator element (5) and said thrust element (3) .

6. Assembly according to claim 5, wherein said thrust element (3), said second elastic element (4), said first elastic element (7) and said actuator element (5) are aligned with respect to a vertical axis (Z) .

7. Assembly according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said second elastic element (4) is above the first elastic element (7), which in turn is above the actuator element (5) , being aligned with respect to a vertical axis (Z) .

8. Assembly according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said second elastic element (4) and said first elastic element (7) are interposed between the actuator element (5) and the thrust element (3) .

9. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuator element (5) is positioned below said elastic element (7) .

10. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said thrust element (3) can slide along a vertical axis (Z) .

11. Push-button comprising at least one key (1) and a support structure (11), wherein the key (1) can slide along a vertical axis;

characterized in that it comprises at least one assembly according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Push-button according to claim 11, wherein said key (1), said thrust element (3), said second elastic element (4), said first elastic element (7), said actuator element (5) and the key (62) are aligned with respect to said vertical axis (Z) .