Rocker-type electrical switch

• US 5,796,057 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyodenso Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakajima, Akira, Sekine, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US08/706,701
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 200/6 B, 200/6 BA, 200/6 BB, 200/6 C, 200/284, 200/283, 200/553, 200/556, 200/557, 200/558, 200/559, 200/339, 200/568
• US Class Current: 200/6.00B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/28 with three operating positions

Abstract

A rocking member is swingably supported on one opening side of a cylindrical case, and a knob is attached to the rocking member. The rocking member is provided with a rocking arm extending therefrom in the longitudinal direction of the case. The rocking arm has a tip section for engaging projections of a contact holder. The contact holder is moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case by the swinging action of the rocking arm, thereby switching a plurality of circuits. As a result, the switch can be made compact and its structure can be simplified.

Claims

1. An electrical rocker switch comprising:

a cylindrical case;

a knob swingably supported at one end of the case;

a movable contact holder adapted to interlock with swinging action of the knob to move in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the case, the contact holder including a plurality of movable contacts for switching a plurality of circuits;

board provided with a plurality of stationary contacts to contact with the movable contacts;

a rocking member provided within said case for connecting the knob to the contact holder, said rocking member including a rocking arm integrally formed therewith and extending in the longitudinal direction of the case adjacent an inside surface of the case, with a tip of the rocking arm engaging the contact holder; and

a stabilizing mechanism located between the knob and the contact holder for stabilizing the rocking member, said stabilizing mechanism including an engaging groove formed in a portion of the case, a ball movable along the engaging groove, and a coil spring for biasing the ball into the engaging groove.

2. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein the contact holder is provided with a pair of projections for holding the tip of the rocking arm therebetween.

3. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein a rectangular holder accommodating recess is provided in the board so that the contact holder can be accommodated therein to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case.

4. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein the contact holder is provided with contact springs for biasing the movable contacts toward the board.

5. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said case further comprising a generally U-shaped wall therein having an arc-shaped bottom section, said engaging groove being located on said bottom section.

6. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lights located in said case, one of said lights illuminating said knob, and remaining ones of said lights illuminating when said knob is depressed.

7. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said knob is movable between a first position where an upper portion of the knob is depressed and a first electrical circuit is completed, a second intermediate neutral position, and a third position where a lower portion of the knob is depressed and a second electrical circuit is completed.

8. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of lights located in said case, a first one of said lights illuminating said knob, a second one of said lights illuminating when said knob is in said first position, and a third one of said lights illuminating when said knob is in said third position.

9. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 8, wherein said case further comprising a generally U-shaped wall member therein having an arc-shaped bottom section with a partition member extending outwardly therefrom, said U-shaped wall member and said partition member isolating the lights from one another.

10. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 8, wherein said knob includes a pair of lenses for allowing light emitted from said first and third lights to pass therethrough.

11. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 10, wherein said switch further includes a pair of light transmitting members for transmitting light emitted from said first and third lights to said lenses.

12. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, further comprising at least one light attached to said rocking member for illuminating said knob.

13. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 12, wherein said knob includes a lens for allowing light emitted from said light to pass therethrough.

14. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of movable contacts includes first and second electrically isolated movable contact plates.

15. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of stationary contacts includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth electrically isolated stationary contact plates.

16. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 15, wherein said knob is movable to a first position where an upper portion of the knob is depressed and said first movable contact plate connects said first stationary contact with said fourth and said fifth stationary contact plates, and said second movable contact plate connects said second stationary contact plate with said sixth stationary contact plate.

17. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 15, wherein said knob is movable to a second position where a lower portion of the knob is depressed and said first movable contact plate connects said first stationary contact with said third stationary contact plate, and said second movable contact plate connects said second stationary contact plate with said first stationary contact plate.

18. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 15, wherein said knob is movable between a first position where an upper portion of the knob is depressed and a second position where a lower portion of the knob is depressed, wherein when said knob is in said first position, said first movable contact plate connects said first stationary contact with said fourth and said fifth stationary contact plates, and said second movable contact plate connects said second stationary contact plate with said sixth stationary contact plate, and wherein when said knob is in said second position, said first movable contact plate connects said first stationary contact with said third stationary contact plate, and said second movable contact plate connects said second stationary contact plate with said first stationary contact plate.

19. The electrical rocker switch according to claim 14, wherein the tip of the rocking arm is located directly above said first movable contact plate, and said tip includes opposed ear portions which engage opposed projections extending from the contact holder.

20. A switch comprising:

a cylindrical case;

a knob swingably supported at one end of the case; and

a contact holder adapted to interlock with the swinging action of the knob to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case, thereby switching a plurality of circuits,

wherein a rocking member for connecting the knob to the contact holder and an energizing mechanism for energizing the rocking member are provided, the energizing mechanism comprising an engaging groove and a coil spring for energizing a ball into the engaging groove.