Lighted push button switch

• US 6,028,279 A
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korry Electronics Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Korry Electronics Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gunell, Gary, Suryan, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/257,229
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/520-524, 200/528, 200/529, 200/533, 200/537, 200/573, 200/574, 200/341, 200/5 R, 200/18
• US Class Current: 200/524
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5822 Flexible connections between movable contact and terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0006 for converting electric switches H01H13/564 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/562 making use of a heart shaped cam

Abstract

A push-button switch (20) having a housing (26) is disclosed. The push-button switch includes a cap assembly (22) reciprocably mounted within the housing. The push-button switch also includes at least a first subminiature switch (64) that is actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger (72) operatively connected thereto. The subminiature switch is disposed within the housing such that actuation of the plunger is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly. The push-button switch also includes an actuator (44) disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger. The actuator sequentially pivots about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position.

Claims

1. A push button switch comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a subminiature switch actuator operatively attachcd thereto; and

(d) a single piece actuator mounted within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the subminiature switch actuator, the single piece actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position.

2. The push button switch of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of subminiature switches disposed within the housing, wherein each of the plurality of subminiature switches has a subminiature switch actuator in contact with the single piece actuator for simultaneous actuation in response to the linear force and each of the plurality of subminiature switches actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by the subminiature switch actuator.

3. The push button switch of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of subminiature switches is disposed within the housing such that each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches moves in a direction that is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly.

4. The push button switch of claim 3, wherein the first pivot point is located substantially near the contact between the single piece actuator and the subminiature switch actuators of the plurality of subminiature switches.

5. The push button switch of claim 4, wherein in response to the linear force, the single piece actuator pivots about the first pivot point and simultaneously translates within the housing along an axis that is substantially parallel to the motion of each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches.

6. The push button switch of claim 5, wherein the single piece actuator pivots about the first pivot point while the single piece actuator remains in contact with each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches to maintain the plurality of subminiature switches in the open circuit position.

7. The push button switch of claim 6, wherein the single piece actuator pivots about the second pivot point after the single piece actuator stops pivoting about the first pivot point and translating within the housing, there by actuating each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches into the closed circuit position.

8. The push button switch of claim 3, further comprising a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing, and in contact with the single piece actuator to produce a tactile response when each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions.

9. The push button switch of claim 8, wherein the tactile response mechanism comprises a tactile housing and a slide member reciprocably received within the tactile housing, the slide member in sliding contact with the single piece actuator for simultaneous tactile response and actuation of each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches between the open and closed circuit positions.

10. The push button switch of claim 9, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock the pluarlity of subminiature switches into the closed circuit position.

11. The push button switch of claim 3, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock the plurality of subminiature switches into the closed circuit position.

12. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger operatively attached thereto, the first subminiature switch being disposed within the housing such that actuation of the plunger is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly; and

(d) a single piece actuator disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger, the single piece actuator sequentially pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position.

13. The push button switch of claim 12, wherein in response to the linear force, the single piece actuator pivots a about the first pivot point and simultaneously translates within the housing along an axis that is substantially parallel to the motion of the plunger.

14. The push button switch of claim 13, wherein the single piece actuator pivots about the first pivot point while the single piece actuator remains in contact with the plunger to maintain the first subminiature switch in the open circuit position.

15. The push button switch of claim 14, wherein the single piece actuator pivots about the second pivot point a after the single piece actuator stops pivoting about the first pivot point and translating within the housing, thereby actuating the first subminiature switch into the closed circuit position.

16. The push button switch of claim 12, further comprising a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing, and in contact with the single piece actuator to produce a tactile response when the first subminiature switch is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions.

17. The push button switch of claim 16, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock the first subminiature switch into the open circuit position.

18. The push button switch of claim 12, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock the first subminiature switch into the open circuit position.

19. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger operatively attached thereto;

(d) a single piece disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger the single piece actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position; and

(e) a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing and in contact with the single piece actuator to produce a tactile response when the first subminiature switch is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions.

20. The push button switch of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of subminiature switches disposed within the housing, wherein each of the plurality of subminiature switches has a plunger in contact with the single piece actuator for simultaneous actuation in response to the linear force.

21. The push button switch of claim 20, wherein in response to the linear force, the single piece actuator pivots about the first pivot point and simultaneously translates within the housing along an axis that is substantially parallel to the motion of each plunger of the plurality of subminiature switches.

22. The push button switch of claim 21, wherein the single piece actuator pivots about the second pivot point after the single piece actuator stops pivoting about the first pivot point and translating within the housing, thereby actuating each of the plurality of subminiature switches into the open circuit position.

23. The push button switch of claim 22, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock each of the plurality of subminiature switches switch into the open circuit position.

24. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger operatively attached thereto;

(d) a single piece actuator disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger, the single piece actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position; and

(e) a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock the first subminiature switch into the open circuit position.

25. The push button switch of claim 24, further comprising a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing, and in contact with the single piece actuator to produce a tactile response when the first subminiature switch is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions.

26. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger operatively attached thereto;

(d) a single piece actuator disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger, the single piece actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position;

(e) a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the single piece actuator to selectively lock the first subminiature switch into the open circuit position; and

(f) a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing and in contact with the single piece actuator to produce a tactile response when the first subminiature switch is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions.

27. A push button switch comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a subminiature switch actuator operatively attached thereto;

(d) an actuator mounted within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the subminiature switch actuator, the actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position; and

(e) a plurality of subminiature switches disposed within the housing, wherein each of the plurality of subminiature switches has a subminiature switch actuator in contact with the single piece actuator for simultaneous actuation in response to the linear force and each of the plurality of subminiature switches actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by the subminiature switch actuator wherein each of the plurality of subminiature switches is disposed within the housing such that each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches moves in a direction that is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly, wherein the first pivot point is located substantially near the contact between the actuator and the subminiature switch actuators of the plurality of subminiature switches, wherein in response to the linear force, the single piece actuator pivots about the first pivot point and simultaneously translates within the housing along an axis that is substantially parallel to the motion of each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches.

28. The push button switch of claim 27, wherein the actuator pivots about the first pivot point while the actuator remains in contact wit h each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches to maintain the plurality of subminiature switches in the open circuit position.

29. The push button switch of claim 28, wherein the single piece actuator pivots about the second pivot point after the actuator stops pivoting about the first pivot point and translating within the housing, thereby actuating each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches into the closed circuit position.

30. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a subminiature switch actuator operatively attached thereto;

(d) an actuator mounted within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the subminiature switch actuator the actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position;

(e) a plurality of subminiature switches disposed within the housing, wherein each of the plurality of subminiature switches has a subminiature switch actuator in contact with the actuator for simultaneous actuation in response to the linear force and each of the plurality of subminiature switches actuatable between an open circuit position anti a closed circuit position by the subminiature switch actuator, wherein each one of the plurality of subminiature switches is disposed within the housing such that each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches moves in a direction that is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly; and

(f) a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing and in contact with the actuator to produce a tactile response when each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of subminiature switches is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions, wherein the tactile response mechanism comprises a tactile housing and a slide member reciprocably received within the tactile housing, the slide member in sliding contact with the actuator for simultaneous tactile response and actuation of each subminiature switch actuator of the plurality of said miniature switches between the open and closed circuit positions.

31. The push button switch of claim 30, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the actuator to selectively lock the plurality of subminiature switches into the closed circuit position.

32. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger operatively attached thereto, the first subminiature switch being disposed within the housing such that actuation of the plunger is substantially normal to the motion of the cap assembly; and

(d) an actuator disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger, the actuator sequentially pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position, wherein in response to the linear force, the actuator pivots about the first pivot point and simultaneously translates within the housing along an axis that is substantially parallel to the motion of the plunger.

33. The push button switch of claim 32, wherein the actuator pivots about the first pivot point while the actuator remains in contact with the plunger to maintain the first subminiature switch in the open circuit position.

34. The push button switch of claim 33, wherein the actuator pivots about the second pivot point after the actuator stops pivoting about the first pivot point and translating within the housing, thereby actuating the first subminiature switch into the closed circuit position.

35. A push button switch, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a cap assembly reciprocably mounted within the housing;

(c) at least a first subminiature switch disposed within the housing, the first subminiature switch actuatable between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position by a plunger operatively attached thereto;

(d) an actuator disposed within the housing and extending between the cap assembly and the plunger, the actuator pivoting about first and second pivot points in response to a linear force to actuate the first subminiature switch between the open and closed circuit position;

(e) a plurality of subminiature switches disposed within the housing, wherein each subminiature switch having a plunger in contact with the actuator for simultaneous actuation in response to the linear force; and

(f) a tactile response mechanism disposed within the housing and in contact with the actuator to produce a tactile response when the first subminiature switch is actuated between the open and closed circuit positions, wherein in response to the linear force, the actuator pivots about the first pivot point and simultaneously translates within the housing along an axis that is substantially parallel to the motion of each plunger of the plurality of subminiature switches.

36. The push button switch of claim 35, wherein the actuator pivots about the second pivot point after the actuator stops pivoting about the first pivot point and translating within the housing, thereby actuating each of the plurality of subminiature switches into the open circuit position.

37. The push button switch of claim 36, further comprising a hold down mechanism disposed within the housing and selectively in contact with a portion of the actuator to selectively lock each of the plurality of subminiature switches switch into the open circuit position.