Modular Push Switch Mechanism
First Claim
1. A switch device comprising:
- a switch actuator plate;
a housing assembly including a back body member and an actuator guide, the actuator guide being coupled to the push switch actuator plate and having a perimeter wall forming an enclosure, the perimeter wall including a plurality of guide portions formed therein, the back body member including a plurality of registration elements, each of the plurality of registration elements being insertably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of guide portions such that the perimeter wall is disposed within the back body member in a nesting arrangement such that the actuator guide is configured to slide within the back body member in a substantially linear motion between a non-switch actuating position and a switch actuating position, the perimeter wall forming a contaminant shield to substantially prevent dust external to the device from contaminating the plurality of guide portions;
a transmission mechanism coupled to the actuator guide and configured to convert the linear motion of the actuator guide into a rotational movement when the switch actuator plate is depressed and the actuator guide is driven toward the switch actuating position; and
a mechanical switch mechanism coupled to the transmission mechanism, the mechanical switch mechanism being configured to move between a first switch state and a second switch state in response to the rotational movement of the transmission mechanism.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a switch device that includes an actuator guide coupled to the switch actuator plate. The perimeter wall of the guide is disposed within the back body member in a nesting arrangement such that the actuator guide is configured to slide within the back body member in a substantially linear motion between a non-switch actuating position and a switch actuating position. The perimeter wall forms a contaminant shield to substantially prevent dust external to the device from contaminating the plurality of guide portions. A transmission mechanism is coupled to the actuator guide and configured to convert the linear motion of the actuator guide into a rotational movement when the switch actuator plate is depressed. A mechanical switch mechanism is configured to move between a first switch state and a second switch state in response to the rotational movement of the transmission mechanism.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A switch device comprising:
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a switch actuator plate; a housing assembly including a back body member and an actuator guide, the actuator guide being coupled to the push switch actuator plate and having a perimeter wall forming an enclosure, the perimeter wall including a plurality of guide portions formed therein, the back body member including a plurality of registration elements, each of the plurality of registration elements being insertably disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of guide portions such that the perimeter wall is disposed within the back body member in a nesting arrangement such that the actuator guide is configured to slide within the back body member in a substantially linear motion between a non-switch actuating position and a switch actuating position, the perimeter wall forming a contaminant shield to substantially prevent dust external to the device from contaminating the plurality of guide portions; a transmission mechanism coupled to the actuator guide and configured to convert the linear motion of the actuator guide into a rotational movement when the switch actuator plate is depressed and the actuator guide is driven toward the switch actuating position; and a mechanical switch mechanism coupled to the transmission mechanism, the mechanical switch mechanism being configured to move between a first switch state and a second switch state in response to the rotational movement of the transmission mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification