Multi-stage button switch

• US 7,230,199 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zippy Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zippy Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Chin-Wen, Lee, Hong-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/206,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 200/17.R, 200/52.R, 200/61.58 R, 200/519, 200/520, 200523-526, 200/282, 200/329, 200/341, 292/19, 292/45, 292/336.3, 292/341.15, 292/341.17, 292/304
• US Class Current: 200/523
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/022 Released by pushing in the closing direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/183 for actuation by moving a closing member, e.g. door, cover H01H13/186, H01H27/002 take precedence; the switch controlling enclosed equipment H01H9/226
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/562 making use of a heart shaped cam
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/066 for locking a switch in a test or an "installation" position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 With movable dog, catch or striker

Abstract

A multi-stage button switch includes a body, an elastic element and a compression element. The compression element has an integrated flexible harness arm. The body has a track zone and a harness portion which is formed with a selected geometric shape to define the moving path of the compression element that includes a start position, a first stage compression position, a compressed position and a second stage compression position in this order. The button switch thus formed consists of fewer elements, is simply structured and can be fabricated and assembled easily.

Claims

1. A multi-stage button switch, comprising a body which has a housing space, an elastic element located in the housing space to receive forces and store a returning elastic force, and a compression element which is located in the body and coupled with the elastic element and movable up and down in the housing space;

wherein the compression element has an integrated flexible harness arm, the body having a track zone corresponding to a moving path of the harness arm according to the up and down movement of the compression element, the track zone having a harness portion, the moving path of the compression element and the harness arm being defined by the track zone and the geometric shape of the harness portion that includes a start position, a first stage compression position, a compressed position and a second stage compression position in this order.

2. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the compression element is a switch button.

3. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the compression element has a lower portion to couple with the elastic element and an upper portion connecting to the lower portion, the lower portion and the upper portion being in an open condition at the start position, and in a closed condition at the compressed position to form a clipping zone.

4. The multi-stage button switch of claim 3, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are connected through an integrated flexible coupling blade which is extended from one end of the lower portion at an inclined angle.

5. The multi-stage button switch of claim 3, wherein the body has an open surface for the compression element to be moved up and down, the open surface having a sliding track and the compression element has a guiding flute on one side corresponding to the sliding tack, the sliding track having a detent portion on an upper end to stop the lower portion.

6. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the compression element has an anchor portion to couple with the elastic element.

7. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the housing space has side walls which have respectively a slot and the compression element has a guiding stub on each of two sides corresponding to the slot.

8. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the harness portion is jutting in the track zone at a selected height, the harness arm having a retaining end corresponding to the height and confined by the harness portion.

9. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the body has an open surface on one side where the track zone is formed to be covered by a lid.

10. The multi-stage button switch of claim 9, wherein the lid and the body have respectively anchor lugs and anchor notches that correspond to each other.

11. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the compression element has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being movable toward and away from the lower portion and being connected by a flexible coupling blade extending therebetween, the lower portion being connected to the elastic element and when moved away from the start position, the lower portion moves the flexible coupling blade to pull the upper portion to a closed clipping position.

12. The multi-stage button switch of claim 11, wherein the upper portion, the lower portion and the flexible coupling blade are a single unitary, one-piece structure.

13. The multi-stage button switch of claim 1, wherein the flexible harness arm extends away from the compression element toward the harness portion, the compression element being located in a top portion of the housing and the harness position being located toward a bottom portion of the housing.

14. The multi-stage button switch of claim 13, wherein the compression element has an upper portion and a lower portion which are pivotable about a first axis and wherein the flexible harness arm is pivotable on the compression element about a second axis, the first and second axes being perpendicular to one another.