Normally closed miniature electric switch including open contact locked position

By designing a normally closed electrical switch including a housing, an internal contact blade and an actuator, the automatic disconnection and unlocking of the electrical switch is achieved by using the pivoting of the locking device and the actuator, the energy consumption problem of the battery pack or battery when it is not in use is solved and is suitable for electronic devices.

CN112735867BActive Publication Date: 2025-08-29C&K COMPONENTS SAS
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202011129334.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2019-10-25
Filing Date
2020-10-21
Publication Date
2025-08-29
Estimated Expiration
2040-10-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing normally closed electrical switches often remain closed before being actuated, resulting in energy consumption in the battery pack or battery, especially when integrated in electronic devices.

Method used

A normally closed electrical switch is designed, including a housing, an internal contact blade and an actuator. The electrical switch is locked in the disconnected position through a locking device, and the state change of the electrical switch is realized through the pivoting of the actuator, including the bottom rest, the first high non-stable and the second high stable position, and has the automatic unlocking function.

Benefits of technology

It realizes keeping the electrical switch off without consuming energy, reducing the energy consumption of the battery pack or battery, and has automatic unlocking function, making it easy to integrate into electronic devices.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The object of the present invention is a normally closed electric switch (100), comprising: a housing comprising a lower part supporting a fixed contact track (51); an inner contact blade (16, 72, 74, 78), the inner contact blade (16, 72, 74, 78) being elastically deformable so as to assume a bottom rest position for establishing an electric switch path, a first highly unstable position in which the switch track is interrupted, and a second highly stable position in which the switch track is interrupted and the inner contact blade (16, 72, 74, 78) is locked by a retractable locking device (46, 86); and an actuator (18, 80, 82) for controlling the deformation of the inner contact blade (16).
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a normally closed electrical switch, comprising an elastically deformable blade, wherein the elastically deformable blade causes the electrical switch to change state in response to an actuating force applied to the elastically deformable blade, and wherein, in the absence of an actuating force, the electrical switch remains in a closed state. Background Art

[0002] In an electrical switch of this type, the electrical switch is elastically held in its closed state under load, provided that no force acts on the actuator.

[0003] After this type of electrical switch is integrated into an electronic or electromechanical device, its conventional use consists in interrupting the electrical switch path by acting on its actuator before the first use or start of operation of the device. The device can then be stored for a potentially very long time without consuming energy.

[0004] During the first use which results in at least one first change of state of the electrical switch, said switch at least temporarily assumes its closed state in which the electrical switch path is established.

[0005] Such a design may be cumbersome, particularly when the electric switch is assembled on an electronic board comprising a battery pack or a battery. In fact, before being integrated into an electronic device, the electric switch is not activated and is in its closed state, which results in consumption of the energy stored in the battery pack or the battery of the device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to propose a solution to this problem by proposing an electrical switch comprising means for locking in the off position, ie in a state in which the electrical switching path is interrupted.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to propose an electric switch that has a compact design and allows absorbing actuation overtravels.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch that can be automatically unlocked when supported by a subassembly installed and assembled in an electronic device. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention provides a normally closed switch, comprising:

[0010] - a housing comprising an upper part made of insulating material and a complementary lower part supporting a fixed lower inner contact rail;

[0011] - an inner contact blade supported by the upper part and elastically deformable so as to present:

[0012] * a bottom rest position in which the inner contact blade resiliently abuts downwardly against a fixed lower inner contact track to establish an electrical switching path;

[0013] * a first highly unstable position in which the electrical switch path is interrupted; and

[0014] * a second, highly stable position in which the electrical switch path is interrupted and the inner contact blade is locked by a retractable locking device;

[0015] an actuator controlling the deformation of the inner contact blade, the actuator being pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis between the following positions, from which the inner contact blade is in its bottom rest position and towards which the actuator elastically returns:

[0016] * a first angular actuated position in which the inner contact blade is in its first, highly unstable position; and

[0017] * A second angular actuated position in which the inner contact blade is in its second, most stable position.

[0018] According to other features of the present invention:

[0019] - the rest position of the actuator is an intermediate angular position between its first angular position and its second angular position for actuating the inner contact vane;

[0020] - The inner contact blades in turn comprise:

[0021] - a rear section for fixing the inner contact blade to the upper part of the housing;

[0022] - an intermediate actuating section; and

[0023] a front contact segment which, in the bottom rest position of the inner contact blade, elastically abuts downwardly against the fixed lower inner contact track in order to establish the electrical switching path, and the actuator comprises a control cam, the cam profile of which engages with the intermediate actuating segment of the inner contact blade;

[0024] - the elastically deformable inner contact blade engages with a control cam of the actuator to assist the elastic return of the actuator towards its rest position;

[0025] - the intermediate actuating section of the inner contact blade extends substantially horizontally above the control cam and above the pivot axis of the actuator;

[0026] - the pivot axis of the actuator is located inside the housing;

[0027] - the upper part of the housing comprises a locking notch, and the actuator comprises a locking lug engaging with the locking notch in order to lock the inner contact blade in its second, more stable position;

[0028] - as an alternative embodiment, the lower part of the housing comprises a locking notch, and the actuator comprises a locking lug engaging with the locking notch to lock the inner contact blade in its second, more stable position;

[0029] - the electric switch comprises an internal stabilizing blade for stabilizing the actuator, the internal stabilizing blade comprising a stabilizing segment, the actuator comprising a control cam, the cam profile of the control cam engaging with the stabilizing segment of the internal stabilizing blade;

[0030] - the lower part of the housing comprises a horizontal lower plate for closing the housing, and the fixed lower inner contact rail is part of the upper surface of the lower plate;

[0031] - the lower plate of the lower part of the housing comprises elastically deformable branches engaging with facing complementary portions of the actuator to assist the elastic return of the actuator from its first angular actuated position to its rest position;

[0032] - as an alternative embodiment, the lower plate of the lower part of the housing comprises an elastically deformable tab comprising a locking notch;

[0033] - the actuator comprises an arm for pivoting the actuator in two directions, the arm projecting vertically upwards through the upper part of the housing;

[0034] - The second, more stable position of the inner contact blade corresponds to an initial delivery state of the electrical switch.

[0035] The invention also proposes an assembly comprising an electronic board and a switch according to the invention, characterized in that the electric switch is mounted on the surface of the electronic board and adjacent to the edge of the electronic board so that, if the assembly is placed in an electronic device, the internal contact blade of the electric switch is automatically unlocked due to its actuator contacting a facing part of the electronic device or a part belonging to the assembly device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, which should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] Figure 1is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an electric switch according to the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A side view of the electric switch shown in ;

[0039] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A top view of the electric switch shown in ;

[0040] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A bottom view of the electric switch shown in ;

[0041] Figure 5 for Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the components of the electric switch shown in FIG.

[0042] Figure 6 For Figure 5 A perspective view from another angle similar to the view of the

[0043] Figure 7 For Figure 1 A view similar to that of FIG, wherein the upper part of the housing and the actuator are not shown;

[0044] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A perspective bottom view and a partial cross-sectional view of the electric switch shown in , wherein the upper part of the housing is not shown;

[0045] Figure 9 for Figure 1 A view of an electric switch, the view being shown along Figure 3 A sectional view taken along line 9-9;

[0046] Figure 10 for Figure 1 A view of an electric switch, the view being shown along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10;

[0047] Figure 11 for Figures 1 to 10 An enlarged perspective view of an actuator of an electrical switch shown in FIG.

[0048] Figure 12 For Figure 6 A view similar to that of FIG, which shows a second embodiment of the electric switch according to the present invention;

[0049] Figure 13 For Figure 7 A view similar to the view of FIG. 1 and showing Figure 12 The second embodiment shown in ;

[0050] Figure 14 For Figure 8 A view similar to the view of FIG. 1 and showing Figure 12 The second embodiment shown in ;

[0051] Figure 15 for Figures 12 to 14 An enlarged perspective view of an actuator of an electrical switch shown in FIG.

[0052] Figure 16 For Figure 9 and showing a second embodiment of the electrical switch in a normally closed state;

[0053] Figure 17 For Figure 16 A view similar to that of FIG, showing the electrical switch in an open, unstable state;

[0054] Figure 18 For Figure 16 A view similar to that of FIG, showing the electrical switch locked in an open stable state;

[0055] Figure 19 For Figure 10 and showing a second embodiment of the electrical switch in a normally closed state;

[0056] Figure 20 For Figure 19 and showing the electrical switch in an open, unstable state;

[0057] Figure 21 For Figure 19 and showing the electrical switch locked in an open stable state;

[0058] Figure 22 is a perspective view showing Figures 12 to 21 The electrical switch shown in FIG is in a position assembled on a surface of a printed circuit board or panel; and

[0059] Figure 23 for Figure 22 A side view of the assembly shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] For the purpose of describing the present invention and for the understanding of the claims, vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted according to the V, L, T coordinate system shown in the figures, by way of non-limiting example and without limitation with reference to ground gravity, wherein the longitudinal axis L and the transverse axis T extend in a horizontal plane.

[0061] By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from rear to front.

[0062] In the following description, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same, similar or comparable elements.

[0063] First embodiment with two inner contact blades

[0064] Figures 1 to 5 An embodiment of an electric switch 100 is shown, which in this example is connected to Figure 3 The vertical, median longitudinal plane PVM shown in FIG has an overall design symmetry.

[0065] The electrical switch 100 comprises a two-part housing 10 made of an upper part 12 and a lower part 14 , which houses a double inner contact blade 16 and an actuator 18 .

[0066] The upper part 12 is a part molded from insulating plastic material having a generally cuboid shape and defining an internal housing 20 delimited by a horizontal upper wall 22 , two vertical and longitudinal side walls 24 and a front vertical and transverse wall 26 .

[0067] The rear lateral surface 28 is open, as is the horizontal lower surface 30 .

[0068] The upper wall 22 comprises a central through hole 32 delimited by an inclined front transverse edge 34 , an inclined rear transverse edge 36 and two longitudinal vertical surfaces 38 having a longitudinal orientation.

[0069] In this example, the inner surface 23 of the upper wall 22 comprises two vertical studs 40 for thermocompression fixing of the inner contact blade 16 , said studs being arranged longitudinally in the vicinity of the open rear lateral surface 28 .

[0070] The open lower surface 30 includes three vertical bosses 42 for thermocompression fixing the lower component 14 , which are arranged in a triangle.

[0071] Approximately at mid-length, each side wall 24 comprises a concave semi-cylindrical housing 44 that is vertically open downwardly.

[0072] Laterally, on either side of the central opening 32 and approximately mid-length, the upper wall 22 includes locking lugs 46 having a generally V-shaped profile.

[0073] The locking lug 46 is longitudinally offset slightly toward the front relative to the central axis A of the housing 44 (see Figure 10 ).

[0074] In this example, the lower part 14 of the housing 10 is a part made of a conductive metal plate that is produced by cutting and folding.

[0075] The lower part comprises a horizontal, rectangular lower panel 50 extending laterally bounded by two vertical, longitudinal side panels 52 .

[0076] The dimensions of the lower component 14 match those of the upper component so that in the assembled position, the side panels 52 each extend along the outer surface 25 of the side wall 24 and extend substantially the entire height of the upper component 12 .

[0077] Each side panel is bounded at its rear longitudinal end 54 by an electrical connection tab 56 extending outwardly in a vertical transverse plane.

[0078] In order to close the housing 10 , the horizontal lower plate 50 comprises three holes 60 arranged in a triangle, through each of which a vertical stud 42 of the upper part 12 passes vertically.

[0079] After the assembly and the thermocompression bonding are completed, the periphery of the upper surface 51 of the lower plate 50 abuts against the facing portion of the lower surface 30 of the upper member.

[0080] The horizontal lower plate 50 comprises two elastic return branches 62 .

[0081] Each return branch 62 is produced by cutting and folding, and its front free end effective section 64 is folded toward the inside of the inner housing of the upper part 12 of the housing 10 .

[0082] By design, each return branch 62 is capable of elastic deformation, in particular elastic deformation downwards. Figures 1 to 10 , the elastic return branches 62 are shown in their non-elastically constrained state.

[0083] In this example, the inner contact blade 16 is a double blade of symmetrical design with respect to the PVM plane, produced from a conductive metal sheet by cutting and folding.

[0084] The two inner electrical contact blades are themselves connected together by a horizontal fixing beam 66 .

[0085] To secure each internal electrical contact blade, the beam 66 comprises two holes 68 that are laterally spaced apart and each of which is vertically traversed by a vertical stud 40 of the upper part 12 .

[0086] Each inner contact blade 16 includes, longitudinally and sequentially from rear to front, a rear fixed segment 70 , a middle actuating segment 72 , and a front contact segment 74 .

[0087] In this example, the rear fixing section 70 extends horizontally, and the beam 66 is fixed to the rear fixing section 70 so as to be fixed below the lower surface 23 of the upper wall 22 of the upper member 12 of the housing 10 .

[0088] In this example, each rear fixing segment 70 is extended longitudinally rearwardly by an external electrical connection segment 76 , which in this example is formed as a pointed pin, which projects longitudinally beyond the open rear lateral surface 28 .

[0089] At rest, that is to say without any action of the actuator 18 on the inner contact blade 16, each intermediate actuation segment 72 extends horizontally inside the housing 20, approximately at mid-height, in the extension of the segments 70 and 76 (see Figure 9 and 10 ).

[0090] Each actuation segment 72 is defined by a flat lower surface 73 .

[0091] Each intermediate actuation segment 72 extends forward from its front longitudinal end against a contact segment 74 , which slopes vertically downward and terminates at an angled end 78 , the convex surface of which is oriented toward the inner upper surface 51 of the horizontal lower plate 50 .

[0092] At rest, ie without any action of the actuator 18 on the inner contact blade 16 , each front contact segment 74 is shaped so that its angled free end 78 resiliently abuts downwardly against a facing portion of the upper surface 51 of the lower plate 50 .

[0093] The facing portion of the upper surface 51 of the lower plate 50 forms a fixed lower electrical contact track, which is used on the one hand to establish an electrical switching path between the lower plate 50 and its electrical connection tab 56 and on the other hand to establish an electrical switching path between the lower plate 50 and the pointed connecting section 76.

[0094] This “rest” state of the inner contact blade 16 and therefore of the electrical switch 100 corresponds to the normally closed NC state of the switch.

[0095] Its actuation and therefore its change of state aims to interrupt the established electrical switching path by lifting the angled free ends 78 vertically upwards so that they no longer contact the facing portion of the upper surface 51 of the lower plate 50 .

[0096] This upward movement is obtained by elastically deforming the inner contact blade 16 by acting on the intermediate actuation section 72 .

[0097] Such actuation and the change of state to the off state are achieved by the actuator 18 .

[0098] The actuator 18 has the general shape of an internal transverse actuation shaft 80 and a drive arm 82 .

[0099] In this example, the inner shaft 80 and its drive arm 82 are produced as a single component from plastic material by moulding.

[0100] In order to achieve the rotational assembly of the shaft pivoting in two directions relative to the housing 10, the internal transverse shaft comprises a cylindrical journal 84 at each of its two opposite transverse ends, which is housed rotationally and practically without play in the complementary housing 44 of the upper part 12, inside which it is captured by the lower part 50.

[0101] The actuating shaft is therefore mounted rotatably about the axis A.

[0102] The internal shaft 80 extends in its central portion bounded by a straight rotary drive arm.

[0103] As a non-limiting example, when the switch is in its rest state (typically Figures 1 to 10 ), the drive arm 82 extends vertically above the upper wall 22 through the central opening 32.

[0104] The drive arm 82 is offset slightly rearwardly longitudinally relative to a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation A.

[0105] The transverse width of the driving arm 82 is slightly smaller than the transverse width of the central opening 32 .

[0106] The maximum angular position that the actuator 18 can attain in either direction corresponds to a position where the drive arm 82 abuts the inclined front lateral edge 34 or the inclined rear lateral edge 36 .

[0107] The inner shaft 80 includes locking lugs 86 on either side of the drive arm 82 that are engageable with opposing locking notches 46 .

[0108] As in Figure 10 As can be seen in Figures 1 to 10 In the rest state shown in FIG, the upper end of the locking lug 86 having a cylindrical profile is offset longitudinally slightly toward the front and extends opposite the associated locking notch 46 .

[0109] The assembly formed by the locking lug 86 and the locking notch 46 forms means for locking the drive arm 82 and therefore the double inner contact blade 16 in its second, highly stable position in which the electrical switching path is interrupted.

[0110] refer to Figure 10In order to enable the drive arm 82 to pivot clockwise, a force must be applied to the drive arm 82 in the same direction, which force should be high enough to retract the locking notch 46 through the elastic deformation of the upper partition and cause the locking lug 86 to pass at an angle to the other side.

[0111] The inner shaft 80 comprises, between each end journal 84 and the central drive arm 82 , a control cam 88 for deforming the inner contact blade 16 .

[0112] In cross-section, the cam profile of each control cam 88 is generally triangular and includes a flat, horizontal upper section 92 terminating in front and rear control elbows 94 , 96 .

[0113] Each elbow 94, 96 is in the form of a convex cylindrical arch. The front elbow 94 extends downwardly through an inclined flat section 98.

[0114] Each cam 88 is arranged transversely in alignment with the return branch 62 , and each inclined flat section 98 of the profile of the cam extends with a certain play relative to the front free-end effective section 64 .

[0115] In the rest position, the upper surface of the flat, horizontal upper segment 92 extends in this example with little vertical play relative to the lower surface 73 of the associated actuating segment 72 .

[0116] The operation of the electrical switch 100 will now be described.

[0117] exist Figures 1 to 10 , the switch 100 is shown in a rest position, wherein an electrical switching path is established through each of the two front contact segments 74 of the dual inner contact blades 16 , wherein each inner blade 16 is in a bottom position relative to the lower plate 50 .

[0118] This is a state (or position) of the electrical switch known as the normally closed (NC) state.

[0119] From this normally closed NC state, and in order for the electrical switch to change state, an actuating force needs to be applied to the drive arm 82 so as to reference Figure 9 and 10 This causes it to pivot counterclockwise and thus the internal actuation shaft 80 to pivot in the same direction.

[0120] This pivoting causes the rear control elbow 96 to engage the associated actuation segment 72 of the inner blade 16 and causes the front contact segment 74 to rise. This causes the free end 78 to be lifted vertically upwards, said free end 78 no longer contacting the facing portion of the upper surface 51 of the lower plate 50.

[0121] Each inner vane 16 is then in a first, high position relative to the lower plate 50 .

[0122] The electrical contacts 51-78 are disconnected practically immediately, but the angular actuation travel can continue by pivoting the actuation arm 82. Thus, the electrical switch 100 has the ability to absorb significant actuation overtravel.

[0123] This is a first off-stable position NOi of the electrical switch, in which the electrical switch path is interrupted.

[0124] This position or state NOi is unstable since, as soon as the actuating force is no longer applied to the actuating arm 82 , the actuator 18 returns elastically to its central angular rest position by the action of the return branch 62 .

[0125] In fact, in addition to the change of state NC->NOi of the electrical switch, the angular actuation stroke carried out by pivoting the actuating arm 82 simultaneously causes an elastic deformation of each return arm 62 due to the force applied to each return branch 62 by the inclined flat section 98 of the associated cam 88.

[0126] When the actuation force applied to the actuation arm 82 is released, the return branches 62 exert their return force on the inner shaft 80 , which returns to its central angular rest position.

[0127] An additional return force, which in this example is exerted by the two front contact segments 74 engaging with the rear elbow 96 , is added to the return force exerted by the return branch 62 .

[0128] From the normally closed NC position, and in order to temporarily lock the electrical switch in the stable open state NOs, it is necessary to apply an actuating force to the drive arm 82 so as to refer to Figure 9 and 10 This causes it to pivot clockwise, and thus causes the inner actuation shaft 80 to pivot in the same clockwise direction.

[0129] This pivoting causes the forward control elbow 94 to engage the associated actuation segment 72 and causes the forward contact segment 74 of each inner vane 16 to rise.

[0130] This results in the free end 78 being lifted vertically upwards, said free end no longer contacting the facing portion of the upper surface 51 of the lower plate 50 .

[0131] Each inner vane 16 is then in a second, highest position relative to the lower plate 50 .

[0132] The electrical contacts 51 - 78 are disconnected practically immediately.

[0133] This is the second stable off position NOs of the electrical switch, in which the electrical switch path is interrupted.

[0134] This position or state NOs is stable because, when the actuating force is no longer applied to the actuating arm 82 , said actuating arm remains angularly locked by the locking means 46 - 86 .

[0135] In fact, by pivoting clockwise, the drive arm 82 causes an elastic deformation of the upper divider so as to retract the locking notch 46 and pass the locking lug 86 angularly to the other side.

[0136] When the actuation force applied to the actuation arm 82 is released, the actuation arm remains locked and the electrical switch remains in its open stable state.

[0137] In order to unlock the electrical switch 100 , an unlocking force must be applied to the drive arm 82 in order to cause it to pivot clockwise, said unlocking force being high enough to retract the locking notch 46 again (through elastic deformation of the upper partition) and to allow the locking lug 86 to pass at an angle to the other side of the locking notch 46 .

[0138] The drive shaft 80 is then in its central angular position again and the electrical switching path is re-established.

[0139] The dual design of the inner contact blade 16 allows contact redundancy to be provided in certain applications, which is useful, for example, if the electrical switch is not sealed and foreign matter is introduced between the free end 78 and the upper surface 51 .

[0140] Second embodiment with single internal contact blade

[0141] Compared with the first embodiment, the Figures 12 to 23 The second embodiment shown in .

[0142] The differences lie essentially in the design of the inner contact blade 16 (which is a single blade), in the design of the locking means of the drive arm 82 , and in the design of the electrical connection means of the lower plate 50 .

[0143] The inner contact vane 16 is a single vane, ie it comprises only a single component with the intermediate actuation segment 72 and the front contact segments 74 , 78 .

[0144] A further section 72 ′, which is symmetrical to the actuation section 72 and has a design similar to that of the actuation section 72 , does not extend against the contact section and therefore has no function of establishing or interrupting electrical contact.

[0145] However, it engages via its horizontal lower surface 73 ′ with a facing flat horizontal upper section 92 ′ of the associated control cam 88 ′ in order to reliably determine the central angular rest position of the actuating shaft 80 .

[0146] The segment 72 ′ thus has the function of stabilizing the actuating shaft 80 in the rest position.

[0147] It is also possible to enhance its additional elastic return effect, for example by providing it with a stiffness greater than that of the actuating segment 72, or even by initially folding or bending the segment 72' so that it exerts a prestress on the facing flat horizontal upper segment 92' of the associated control cam 88'.

[0148] By acting as a temporary locking device in the stable normally open position NOs (see in particular Figure 18 and 21 ), the locking notch 46 is an opening formed in an elastically deformable tab 99 formed centrally in the lower plate 50 laterally between the two elastic return branches 62.

[0149] Additional locking lugs 86 are formed on the lower component of the actuator 18 .

[0150] More specifically, the drive shaft 80 comprises, in its central portion aligned with the actuating arm 82, a nozzle-shaped pin capable of being housed in the opening 46 when the electrical switch is locked in its open stable state NOs (see Figure 21 ).

[0151] The rear profile of the locking lug 86 is shaped to allow unlocking.

[0152] Instead of electrical connection tabs, the lower plate 50 comprises two pointed pins 56 which, like the electrical connection sections 76 of the inner contact blades, project longitudinally beyond the open rear lateral surface 28 .

[0153] The operation of the electrical switch 100 according to this second embodiment is the same as that previously described with reference to the first embodiment, and Figures 16 to 21 is shown in detail.

[0154] As in Figure 22 and 23 As can be seen in , the electric switch 100 according to the invention can be mounted on a surface 104 of an electronic board, in particular comprising a printed circuit board 102 delimited by an edge 106 , so as to form an assembly 200 .

[0155] The switch 100 is located close to the edge 106 of the plate 102 and as shown in FIG. Figure 23 As can be seen in FIG, the outer surface of its wall 22 is generally aligned with the edge 106.

[0156] If the component 200 is Figure 23If the electric switch 100 is installed in an electronic device (not shown) in the direction shown by the arrow F, such assembly and positioning of the electric switch 100 can allow the electric switch 100 to be automatically unlocked by making the actuating arm 82 contact the facing part of the electronic device or the part belonging to the automatic assembly device.

Claims

1. A normally closed electric switch (100), comprising: - a housing (10) comprising an upper part (12) made of insulating material and a complementary lower part (14) supporting a fixed lower inner contact rail; - an inner contact blade (16) supported by the upper part (12) and elastically deformable so as to present: * a bottom rest position (NC), in which the inner contact blade (16) elastically abuts downwardly against a fixed lower inner contact track (51) in order to establish an electrical switching path; * a first highly unstable position (NOi) in which the electrical switch path is interrupted; as well as * a second highly stable position (NOs) in which the electrical switch path is interrupted and the inner contact blade (16) is locked by a retractable locking device (46, 86); - an actuator (18) controlling the deformation of the inner contact blade (16), the actuator being pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis (A) between the following positions, from which the inner contact blade is in its bottom rest position and towards which the actuator elastically returns: * a first angular actuated position in which the inner contact blade (16) is in its first, highly unstable position; and * A second angular actuated position in which the inner contact blade (16) is in its second, most stable position.

2. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The rest position of the actuator (18) is an intermediate angular position between its first angular position and its second angular position for actuating the inner contact vane (16).

3. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The inner contact blade (16) comprises in sequence: - a rear section (70) for fixing the inner contact blade (16) to the upper part (12) of the housing (10); - an intermediate actuation section (72); and a front contact segment (74, 78) which, in the bottom rest position (NC) of the inner contact blade (16), bears elastically downward against the fixed lower inner contact track (51) in order to establish the electrical switching path, And the actuator (18) includes a control cam (88) whose cam profile (92, 94, 96) engages with the intermediate actuation section (72) of the inner contact vane (16).

4. The electric switch (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that The elastically deformable inner contact blade (16) engages a control cam (88) of the actuator (18) to assist in elastically returning the actuator (18) toward its rest position.

5. The electric switch (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that The intermediate actuating section (72) of the inner contact vane (16) extends substantially horizontally above the control cam (88) and above the pivot axis (A) of the actuator (18).

6. The electric switch (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that The pivot axis (A) of the actuator (18) is located inside the housing (10).

7. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The upper part (12) of the housing includes a locking notch (46), and the actuator (18) includes a locking lug (86) that engages the locking notch (46) to lock the inner contact blade (16) in its second, highly stable position (NOs).

8. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing lower member (14) includes a locking notch (46), and the actuator (18) includes a locking lug (86) that engages the locking notch (46) to lock the inner contact blade (16) in its second, highly stable position (NOs).

9. The electric switch according to claim 1, wherein: The electric switch comprises an internal stabilizing blade for stabilizing the actuator (18), the internal stabilizing blade comprising a stabilizing segment (72'), And the actuator (18) includes a control cam (88') having a cam profile (92') that engages with the stabilizing segment (72') of the inner stabilizing blade.

10. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The lower part (14) of the housing (10) comprises a horizontal lower plate (50) for closing the housing (10), and the fixed lower inner contact track is part of the upper surface (51) of the lower plate (50).

11. The electric switch (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that The lower plate (50) of the lower part (14) of the housing (10) includes an elastically deformable branch (62) that engages a facing complementary portion (96) of the actuator (18) to assist the actuator (18) in elastically returning from its first angular actuated position to its rest position.

12. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The electrical switch further comprises an internal stabilizing blade for stabilizing the actuator, the internal stabilizing blade comprising a stabilizing section, and wherein: the lower part of the housing comprises a locking notch; the actuator comprises a locking lug, the locking lug engages with the locking notch to lock the internal contact blade in its second, highly stable position; the actuator further comprises a control cam, the cam profile of the control cam engages with the stabilizing section of the internal stabilizing blade, the lower plate of the lower part of the housing comprises an elastically deformable tab comprising the locking notch.

13. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The actuator (18) includes an arm (82) for pivoting the actuator (18) in two directions, the arm protruding vertically upward through the upper part (12) of the housing (10).

14. The electric switch (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that The second, most stable position (NOs) of the inner contact blade (16) corresponds to an initial delivery state of the electrical switch (100).

15. An assembly (200) comprising an electronic board (102) and an electrical switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The electric switch (100) is mounted on the surface (104) of the electronic board and adjacent to the edge (106) of the electronic board (102) so that, if the assembly (200) is placed in an electronic device, the inner contact blade (16) of the electric switch is automatically unlocked due to its actuator contacting a facing part of the electronic device or a part belonging to an assembly device.

Citation Information

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