PLAIN-FACE SWITCH AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING THE PLAIN-FACE SWITCH

• US 20170359068A1
• Filed: 08/28/2017
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.
• Inventors: OMORI, Kiyoshi, OBATA, Yasutoshi
• Application Number:
  US15/687,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20170359068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element

Abstract

A plain-face switch according to an embodiment is the mounted-type plain-face switch that is mounted into an opening, it includes a base unit that is provided at the back of the opening, a sensor module that has a flat sensor surface facing the side of the opening and that is supported by the base unit, and a securing unit that secures the base unit to the bottom surface, which is located at the back of the opening, and the securing unit is capable of adjusting the position or the tilt of the sensor module in the depth direction with respect to the opening such that the edge surface of the sensor module at the side of the opening enters a predetermined state with respect to the opening.

Claims

1. A mounted-type plain-face switch that is mounted into

an opening, the plain-face switch comprising:

a base unit that is provided at back of the opening;

a sensor module that has a flat sensor surface facing side of the opening and that is supported by the base unit; and

a securing unit that secures the base unit to a bottom surface that is located at the back of the opening, wherein

the securing unit is capable of adjusting a position or a tilt of the sensor module in a depth direction with respect to the opening such that an edge surface of the sensor module at side of the opening enters a predetermined state with respect to the opening.

2. The plain-face switch according to claim 1, wherein the securing unit includes

an elastic member that is provided between the base unit and the bottom surface and that is attached to the base unit;

and

a securing member that secures the base unit to the bottom surface.

3. The plain-face switch according to claim 2, wherein

the base unit includes a rectangular plane section and leg sections that extend from at least two opposing sides of the plane section toward the bottom surface,

the elastic member is provided at least at four corners or a center of the plane section, and

the securing member is provided at least on the leg section in neighborhood of the four corners of the plane section.

4. The plain-face switch according to claim 2, wherein

the securing member is a thread, and

the plain-face switch comprises a packing that is provided to cover a clearance between the sensor module and an edge of the opening.

5. The plain-face switch according to claim 2, wherein the securing member includes a guide pin that is secured to the bottom surface and an adhesive agent that attaches the base unit to the guide pin.

6. The plain-face switch according to claim 2, wherein

the elastic member is a coil spring,

the base unit includes a protruding section that protrudes toward the bottom surface and that has one end side of the coil spring fitted therewith, and

the protruding section is provided with a locking projection that locks the coil spring.

7. The plain-face switch according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module includes a capacitance-type sensor unit.

8. The plain-face switch according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module includes

a cover unit that is provided on side of the opening and that is located at the opening;

and

a sensor main body to which the cover unit is attached.

9. The plain-face switch according to claim 8, wherein

the sensor module includes

a backlight that is provided between the cover unit and the sensor main body;

and

an indication unit that is provided between the backlight and the cover unit, and

the cover unit is made of a light transmissive material.

10. The plain-face switch according to claim 8, wherein

the sensor module includes a backlight that is provided between the cover unit and the sensor main body, and

the cover unit is made of a light transmissive material and has an indication printed thereon.

11. The plain-face switch according to claim 8, comprising a switch box to which the sensor main body is attached, wherein

the switch box is attached to the base unit at the side of the opening so that the sensor module is supported by the base unit via the switch box.

12. The plain-face switch according to claim 11, comprising a spacer that is attached to the switch box, wherein

the sensor main body includes

a securing box that is attached to the spacer;

a securing plate that is attached to the securing box; and

a sensor unit that is attached to the securing plate.

13. The plain-face switch according to claim 1, wherein the securing unit is capable of adjusting a position and a tilt of the sensor module in a depth direction with respect to the opening so that the predetermined state is obtained such that the edge surface of the sensor module at the side of the opening is flush with the opening.

14. A method for attaching a mounted-type plain-face switch that is attachable such that a sensor module is located at an opening, the method comprising:

securing a base unit to a bottom surface at back of the opening with a securing unit;

supporting the sensor module by the base unit such that a flat sensor surface faces side of the opening; and

adjusting a secured state of the base unit by the securing unit so as to adjust a position or a tilt of the sensor module in a depth direction with respect to the opening such that an edge surface of the sensor module at the side of the opening enters a predetermined state with respect to the opening.