Electric rocker switch

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric rocker switch (1) having a base plate (30) and a rocker element (10) which is designed as a rocker and is supported on the rocker plate (30) and can be tilted with respect to the base plate, wherein the rocker element (10) defines, on a side facing away from the base plate (30), four actuation surfaces (11, 12, 13, 14), of which a first actuation surface (11) and a second actuation surface (12) are arranged spaced apart from one another along a first centre axis (M1) and a third actuation surface (13) and a fourth actuation surface (14) are spaced apart from one another along a second centre axis (M2) which intersects the first centre axis (M1), wherein the rocker element (10) can be pivoted by a force (F1) acting on a respective actuation surface (11, 12, 13, 14) from a neutral position about a respective tilt axis (K1, K2, K3, K4) into in each case an actuation position, and wherein the respective tilt axis (K1, K2) of the first actuation surface (11) and of the second actuation surface (12) lies opposite the respective actuation surface (11, 12) with respect to the second centre axis (M2) and the respective tilt axis (K3, K4) of the third actuation surface (13) and of the fourth actuation surface (14) lies opposite the respective actuation surface (13, 14) with respect to the first centre axis (M1).

Description

[0001] Electric rocker switch

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to an electrical rocker switch, which can also be referred to as a four-way rocker switch.

[0004] Rocker switches or four-way rockers, in which a rocker element can be tilted around two mutually orthogonal axes to switch four switching points, are already known in the prior art. Such four-way rockers define four actuating surfaces, which are usually evenly distributed around a common vertical axis, with each actuating surface assigned to a switching point. Pressing one actuating surface tilts the rocker element and causes a switch to switch, i.e., establishes an electrical connection at the switching or actuating point.However, this poses a problem: the rocker element can only be tilted around a first central axis in two (rotational) directions and around a second central axis in two (rotational) directions. Therefore, starting from the lever arm between the respective central axis and a respective switching point associated with an actuating surface, a relatively large tilt or rotation angle of the rocker element around the central axis is necessary to cover a predetermined actuation path, and the offset of the rocker element relative to its initial position is correspondingly large. Alternatively, if a smaller offset or rotation angle is to be achieved, the dimensions of the rocker element must be increased accordingly to increase the lever arm. However, this is unacceptable for many installation situations and applications.

[0005] Simple rocker switches, which can only be tilted around a single axis or have only two switching points, are known, for example, from documents US 2004 / 0182685 A1, DE 36 00 910 A1, WO 00 / 26931 A1, and US 2009 / 0255795 A1. However, due to their mechanical design, these switches are also subject to the problem described above: the rocker element and the lever arm determined by the rocker element must be enlarged if the offset or deflection of the rocker element is to be reduced to achieve a predetermined actuation path to the switching point.

[0006] Furthermore, EP 2 537 173 B1 discloses a simple rocker switch having two switching points. However, in this switch, a rocker element can be tilted about two tilting axes running parallel to the central axis instead of a central axis. As a result, the lever arm extends from an actuation point beyond the central axis to the opposite tilting axis, and the offset of the rocker element is correspondingly reduced. The invention is therefore based on the object of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and providing an electrical rocker switch whose rocker element must be tilted with a minimal or minimized offset to cover an actuation path.

[0007] This problem is solved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1.

[0008] According to the invention, an electrical rocker switch is therefore proposed with a base plate and a rocker element designed as a rocker, which is mounted in particular directly or at least indirectly on the base plate and can be tilted relative to the base plate. The rocker element defines four actuating surfaces for actuation by the operator on a side facing away from the base plate, which side preferably faces an operator during intended use. Of the four actuating surfaces, a first actuating surface and a second actuating surface are arranged at a distance from one another along a first central axis, and a third actuating surface and a fourth actuating surface are arranged at a distance from one another along a second central axis which crosses the first central axis, in particular orthogonally. The four actuating surfaces are arranged with regard to vertical axes lying orthogonal to the central axes and at their intersection point, and also with regard to a possiblyThe central actuating surface arranged at the intersection point can also be referred to as the outer actuating surfaces. The first and second actuating surfaces are spaced apart from one another along the first central axis, which crosses a second central axis, along which the third and fourth actuating surfaces are spaced apart from one another. According to the invention, the rocker element can be pivoted from a neutral position about a respective tilting axis into a respective actuating position by a force acting on a respective actuating surface and, in particular or to be clarified, by a compressive force acting on the actuating surface from the side facing away from the base plate. Accordingly, each of the four actuating surfaces is assigned its own tilting axis, so that the rocker switch has not just two mutually orthogonal axes, but four tilting axes.The respective tilt axis of the first actuating surface and the second actuating surface lies opposite the respective actuating surface with respect to the second central axis. Furthermore, the respective tilt axis of the third actuating surface and the fourth actuating surface lies opposite the respective actuating surface with respect to the first central axis. Accordingly, the second central axis lies between the first actuating surface and a first tilt axis assigned to the first actuating surface, and between the second actuating surface and a second tilt axis assigned to the second actuating surface. Analogously, the first central axis lies between the third actuating surface and a third tilt axis assigned to the third actuating surface, and between the fourth actuating surface and a fourth tilt axis assigned to the fourth actuating surface.

[0009] The tilting axes can each be arranged at an edge area of ​​the rocker element in order to maximize the distance from the corresponding actuating surface.

[0010] Preferably, an actuation or switching point is assigned to each actuation surface, so that a force acting on the respective actuation surface and the associated tilting of the rocker element leads to a force being applied to or in the actuation or switching point, whereby an electrically conductive connection is established or a switching process is triggered. The lever arm between an actuation or switching point lying in the respective actuation surface or an actuation or switching point assigned to the actuation surface, as seen from the side facing away from the base plate, and the associated tilting axis is correspondingly greater than a minimum distance between the actuation or switching point and the central axis, so that the necessary rotation, i.e. tilting or offset of the rocker element, is less than a rotation about the central axis.

[0011] An advantageous further development provides that each actuating surface is assigned a contact system, which is arranged between the rocker element and the base plate and is designed to act in a switching manner and / or to establish an electrical connection to a circuit board arranged in particular on the base plate when a (pressure) force acts on the respective actuating surface. The respective contact system can be arranged at the actuating or switching point or determine this. This results in a first contact system being assigned to the first actuating surface so as to determine the first switching point, a second contact system being assigned to the second actuating surface so as to determine the second switching point, a third contact system being assigned to the third actuating surface so as to determine the third switching point, and a fourth contact system being assigned to the fourth actuating surface so as to determine the fourth switching point.

[0012] Furthermore, a contact system preferably consists of a rocker element side rigid element, for example designed as a plunger, cylinder or tube, and an elastic element on the base plate side, which can have a snap disk and / or a conductive layer for establishing an electrical connection on the circuit board.

[0013] Furthermore, the contact systems can be designed to exert a restoring force on the rocker element, returning the rocker element from the respective actuating position to the neutral position. Preferably, the restoring force is a spring force caused or provided by the elastic element of the respective contact system. This also means that the contact systems not only return the rocker element to the most neutral position, but can also hold the rocker element in the respective neutral position without the application of an external force.

[0014] Particularly preferably, this also results in the contact system associated with the actuating surface which is spaced apart from a force-loaded actuating surface along the respective central axis holding the rocker element in the neutral position on the side spaced apart from the force-loaded actuating surface along the central axis.

[0015] Furthermore, the proposed rocker switch can have one stop per tilt axis, i.e., four stops, each designed to limit tilting or offsetting of the rocker element about the respective tilt axis. The stops are arranged, in particular, between the base plate and the rocker element, so that the external dimensions of the rocker element or the rocker switch are not increased in a plane determined by the tilt axes or the central axes.

[0016] In order to reduce the number of parts and improve the switching properties, it can also be provided that the stops are each designed to surround a contact system, in particular in a sleeve-like manner, and integrally form a guide for the respective contact system and in particular a guide for its rigid plunger, by means of which a movement of the contact system or the plunger is preferably guided along its actuating direction, ie orthogonal to a plane spanned by the central or tilting axes.

[0017] According to an advantageous variant, the rocker switch can also have a housing arranged at least partially between the rocker element and the base plate and covering the base plate, which housing integrally forms the stops. As explained, a printed circuit board can be arranged between the rocker element and the base plate, and preferably on the base plate. The housing can be designed to house the printed circuit board together with the base plate, i.e., to essentially completely surround it. The base plate can also be considered a cover that closes the housing.

[0018] According to the invention, each tilt axis is determined by two suspensions spaced apart along the respective tilt axis. The two suspensions are each formed by a first suspension element that is stationary relative to the rocking element and in particular formed by the rocking element or fixed to the rocking element, and a corresponding second suspension element that is stationary relative to the base plate and in particular formed or fixed directly to the base plate. However, the second suspension element can also be fixed to the base plate indirectly, for example via the housing. For this purpose, the second suspension element is formed or fixed to the housing, and the housing is fastened to the base plate.

[0019] Specifically, the first suspension element can be a tab with an opening, which is particularly designed as an elongated hole, and the second suspension element can be or have a pin extending into the opening along the respective tilt axis. Alternatively, conversely, it can be provided that the second suspension element is a tab with an opening, which is particularly designed as an elongated hole, and the first suspension element is or has a pin extending into the opening along the respective tilt axis.

[0020] When the rocker element is actuated, ie when a force acts on the respective actuating surface, the rocker element on the actuated side, ie on the side of the force-actuated actuating surface, can be moved through the opening towards the base plate or can pivot about the associated tilting axis.

[0021] The elongated hole can, for example, be straight or linear and, in the neutral position of the rocker element, extend orthogonally to a plane spanned by the tilting or central axes. Alternatively, however, the elongated hole can also have an arcuate shape corresponding to the movement path of the rocker element from the neutral position to a respective actuated position.

[0022] The first suspension element and the second suspension element and, according to the advantageous development, the pin and the tab can also have corresponding insertion bevels, by means of which the suspension elements can be more easily locked into one another during assembly of the rocker element.

[0023] The tilt axes preferably extend to form a rectangle and, in particular, a square, with two suspensions each arranged at a corner of the rectangle or square. The first suspension elements and / or the second suspension elements of the two suspensions arranged in a corner are, in particular, each formed integrally with one another. Accordingly, the respective two first suspension elements or the respective two second suspension elements can form a common structure, in particular extending around the corner.

[0024] The second suspension elements are preferably provided on the housing, ie formed or fixed thereon and connected to the base plate via the housing.

[0025] In a region of the rocker element where the first central axis and the second central axis intersect, an opening can be provided in which an actuating element operable orthogonally to the central axes is arranged. According to a first variant, the actuating element is mounted against the rocker element and can be tilted with it about the tilting axes, so that the actuating element moves with the rocker element. In an alternative second variant, the actuating element is mounted against the base plate and cannot be tilted relative to the tilting axes, so that the actuating element is unchanged or fixed relative to a movement of the rocker element.

[0026] In this case, the actuating element can define a central actuating surface on a side facing away from the base plate, with the actuating element being assigned a further contact system, which can be referred to as a central contact system. The central contact system is arranged between the actuating element and the base plate and is designed to act upon a force acting on the central actuating surface, switching and / or establishing an electrical connection to a circuit board, preferably the circuit board arranged in particular on the base plate.

[0027] Analogous to the functioning of the four contact systems assigned to the outer actuating surfaces, it can also be provided for the central contact system that the actuating element can be brought from a neutral position into an actuating position by the force acting on the central actuating surface and that the central contact system is designed to exert a restoring force on the actuating element that returns the actuating element from its actuating position to its neutral position.

[0028] The features disclosed above can be combined as desired, as long as this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other.

[0029] Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. They show:

[0030] Fig. 1 Visible view of a rocker switch known in the prior art;

[0031] Fig. 2 Cross section of the rocker switch according to Figure 1;

[0032] Fig. 3 exploded view of a rocker switch according to the invention;

[0033] Fig. 4 Housing and rocker element according to Figure 3;

[0034] Fig. 5 Visible view of a rocker switch according to the invention;

[0035] Fig. 6 Cross section of the rocker switch according to Figure 5;

[0036] Fig. 7a, b sectional view along the section line AA shown in Fig. 5;

[0037] Fig. 8a, b sectional view along the section line BB shown in Fig. 5;

[0038] The figures are schematic examples. Like reference numerals in the figures indicate like functional and / or structural features. Furthermore, Figures 3 to 8b may refer to a variant of a rocker switch according to the invention.

[0039] Figures 1 and 2 show a rocker switch or four-way rocker switch known in the prior art, which has four actuating surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14 evenly distributed on a rocker element 10 around an imaginary vertical axis H and a central actuating surface 15 located centrally on the vertical axis H.

[0040] According to the prior art, the rocking element 10 can be tilted or pivoted by means of a central double suspension about exactly two axes that are orthogonal to one another, ie the first central axis M1 and the second central axis M2, relative to a base plate 30 or a housing 40 enclosing the base plate 30.

[0041] By tilting or pivoting about the respective central axis M1, M2, the force applied by the operator to the respective operating surface 21, 22, 23, 24 is transferred to a contact system 21, 22, 23, 24 arranged between the rocker element 10 and the base plate 30, which contact system establishes an electrically conductive connection on a circuit board 31 arranged on the base plate 30 or triggers a switching process.

[0042] To trigger such a switching operation, the contact systems 21, 22, 23, 24 or at least parts of the contact systems 21, 22, 23, 24 must each travel a predetermined actuation path B or be compressed according to the actuation path B.

[0043] To cover the actuation path B, the distance A1 of the respective contact system 21, 22, 23, 24 from the respective center axis M1, M2 results in an angle a through which the rocker element 10 must be pivoted. This angle a determines the offset by which the rocker element 10 must move from its neutral starting position, as shown in Figure 2, to its respective actuated position.

[0044] The problem here is that a large or larger offset leads to corresponding distances and tolerances on the rocker switch and thus to an unnecessary increase in the installation space, and on the other hand to an undesirable haptic, since the operator clearly perceives the strong displacement or offset when the rocker switch is actuated.

[0045] In addition, the cardanic bearing required for this in the center of the rocker switch is, on the one hand, mechanically complex and, on the other hand, comparatively large, so that the installation space of the rocker switch must also be correspondingly large.

[0046] To solve these problems, a structure according to Figures 3 to 8b is proposed, which show a rocker switch 1 according to the invention in different views and operating states.

[0047] Instead of providing rotation about the central axes M1, M2 or a cardanic suspension with respect to the central axes M1, M2 as in the prior art, it is proposed according to the invention that the rocking element 10 can be pivoted by a force F1 acting on a respective actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14 from a neutral position, as shown for example in Figure 6, about a respective tilting axis K1, K2, K3, K4 into a respective actuating position, as shown for example in Figures 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b. Accordingly, not just two rotation or tilting axes corresponding to the central axes M1, M2, but four tilting axes K1, K2, K3, K4 are provided, wherein the actuation of each actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14 leads to a tilting of the rocking element 10 about its own tilting axis K1, K2, K3, K4.The respective tilt axis K1, K2 of the first actuating surface 11 and the second actuating surface 12 of the respective actuating surface 11, 12 is opposite the second central axis M2, and the respective tilt axis K3, K4 of the third actuating surface 13 and the fourth actuating surface 14 of the respective actuating surface 13, 14 is opposite the first central axis M1.

[0048] Accordingly, as shown in particular in Figure 5, a distance A2 from a contact system 21, 22, 23, 24 assigned to an actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14 no longer extends merely as far as the respective central axis M1, M2, but beyond that as far as the respectively associated tilting axis K1, K2, K3, K4. Since the actuating path B remains unchanged compared to the rocker switch known from Figures 1 and 2, the angle ß by which the rocker element 10 must be tilted and the resulting offset of the rocker element 10 become correspondingly smaller, which can be seen, for example, in Figures 7a to 8b.

[0049] The contact system 21, 22, 23, 24 assigned to an actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14 can each consist of a rigid, for example tubular or plunger-shaped element 26, which is arranged towards the rocker element 10, and of an elastic element 27, which is arranged towards the base plate 30.

[0050] The elastic element 27 is designed to deform elastically in accordance with the actuation path B and to act on a circuit board 31 arranged on the base plate 30, establishing an electrically conductive connection, as is visible, for example, for the contact system 24 in Figure 8a or contact system 23 in Figure 8b.

[0051] For this purpose, the elastic elements 27 can be cup-shaped and have an electrically conductive surface or a snap disk.

[0052] If the operator does not apply a force F1 to the respective actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14, the respective elastic element 27 deformed by the force F1 deforms back and thereby brings the rocker element 10 from the actuated position back into its neutral position.

[0053] It is also particularly advantageous, as can be seen in particular in Figures 7a to 8b, that such a restoring force F2 of the elastic elements 27 not acted upon by the operator's force F1 is sufficient to hold the rocker element 10 in the neutral position or in a non-actuated position on one side or in the region of an actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14, which is opposite the actuated side or actuating surface 11, 12, 13, 14. As a result, no additional springs or actuators are necessary, since this function is fulfilled integrally by the contact systems 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0054] Another advantage over the prior art is that it is fundamentally possible to simultaneously actuate multiple actuating surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14 and the associated contact systems 21, 22, 23, 24 by applying a correspondingly simultaneous force, so that multiple operating inputs can be made simultaneously if desired. If this is to be prevented, this can be achieved by a spacer element arranged centrally, i.e., in the area of ​​the vertical axis H.

[0055] The tilt axes K1, K2, K3, K4 are arranged—as visible in Figure 5—to form a rectangle and, in this case, a square. Each tilt axis K1, K2, K3, K4 is formed by two suspensions 50 provided on opposite sides of the rocker switch 1, which in turn are each formed from a first suspension element 51 formed on the rocker element 10 and a corresponding second suspension element 52.

[0056] The second suspension elements 52 can be fixed or formed directly on the base plate 30, but in the present case are formed on a housing 40 and fixed to the base plate 30 via the housing 40 and are therefore stationary relative to the base plate.

[0057] For example, the housing 40 and the base plate 30 are screwed together by means of screws 45, whereby snap or locking elements could also be provided in order to connect the housing 40 to the base plate 30.

[0058] Figure 4 shows an enlarged portion of the exploded view according to Figure 3 and thereby clearly illustrates the housing 40 and the rocker element 10, so that the suspension elements 51, 52 each forming a suspension 50 are visible.

[0059] The first suspension elements 51 form elongated holes into which the pins of the second suspension elements 52 can engage when the rocker element 10 is attached to the housing 40. The two second suspension elements 52, each located at a corner of the square, are integrally formed with one another and provide a stabilizing angle.

[0060] In order to provide additional functions integrally with one another and thereby further minimize the space requirement, the housing 40 is provided with a guide sleeve for each of the contact systems 21, 22, 23, 24 assigned to the actuating surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14, which guide sleeve simultaneously serves as the respective stop 41, 42, 43, 44 of the rocker element 10 on the housing 40. This allows the contact systems 21, 22, 23, 24 to be guided along their direction of movement parallel to the vertical axis H, and also limits any displacement or offset of the rocker element 10.

[0061] The illustrated embodiment also has a central actuating element 17, which is guided through an opening 16 formed in the rocker element 10. For this purpose, the opening is provided in a center of the square formed by the tilting axes K1, K2, K3, K4. The actuating element 17, in turn, has an actuating surface 15 or a central actuating surface 15 on its side facing away from the base plate 30. A further or central contact system 25 is provided between the actuating element 17 and the base plate 30, so that a corresponding force acting on the central actuating element 17 deforms the elastic element 27 of the central contact system 25 - as shown in Figure 6 - and a switching process can be triggered on the circuit board 31.

[0062] In the present case, the actuating element 17 is mounted on the rocking element 10, so that the actuating element 17 is tilted together with the rocking element 10 about the tilting axes K1, K2, K3, K4. On a side facing the base plate 30, the actuating element 17 therefore has a receptacle in which the first element 26 of the central contact system 25, in the present case designed as a plunger, is guided and can move when the rocking element 10 is tilted.

[0063] Alternatively, the central actuating element 17 could also be fixed directly to the housing 40 or the base plate 30 and thus be non-tiltable relative to the tilting axes K1, K2, K3, K4. It goes without saying that the rocking element 10 could also alternatively be closed in its central region and / or be designed without a central actuating element 17.

[0064] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable that utilize the presented solution even in fundamentally different embodiments.

Claims

Electrical rocker switch (1) with a base plate (30) and a rocker element (10) designed as a rocker, which is mounted on the base plate (30) and can be tilted relative to the base plate, wherein the rocker element (10) defines four actuating surfaces (11, 12, 13, 14) on a side facing away from the base plate (30), of which a first actuating surface (11) and a second actuating surface (12) are arranged at a distance from one another along a first central axis (M1), and a third actuating surface (13) and a fourth actuating surface (14) are arranged at a distance from one another along a second central axis (M2) crossing the first central axis (M1), characterized in that the rocker element (10) can be moved from a neutral position about a respective tilting axis (K1, K2) by a force (F1) acting on a respective actuating surface (11, 12, 13, 14). K2, K3, K4) can be pivoted into an actuating position, wherein the respective tilting axis (K1,K2) of the first actuating surface (11) and the second actuating surface (12) of the respective actuating surface (11, 12) with respect to the second central axis (M2), and the respective tilting axis (K3, K4) of the third actuating surface (13) and the fourth actuating surface (14) of the respective actuating surface (13, 14) with respect to the first central axis (M1), wherein a respective tilting axis (K1, K2, K3, K4) is determined by two suspensions (50) spaced apart along the respective tilting axis (K1, K2, K3, K4), which are each formed by a first suspension element (51) fixed relative to the rocking element (10) and a corresponding second suspension element (52) fixed relative to the base plate (30).

2. Rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein each actuating surface (11, 12, 13, 14) is assigned a contact system (21, 22, 23, 24) which is arranged between the rocker element (10) and the base plate (30) and is designed to act in a switching manner and / or to establish an electrical connection to a printed circuit board (31) when a force (F1) acts on the respective actuating surface (11, 12, 13, 14).

3. Rocker switch according to claim 2, wherein the contact systems (21, 22, 23, 24) are designed to exert a restoring force (F2) on the rocker element (10) which returns the rocker element (10) from the respective actuating position into the neutral position.

4. Rocker switch according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a stop (41, 42, 43, 44) for each tilting axis (K1, K2, K3, K4), which stop is designed to limit tilting of the rocker element (10) about the respective tilting axis (K1, K2, K3, K4), wherein the stops (41, 42, 43, 44) are arranged between the base plate (30) and the rocker element (10).

5. Rocker switch according to the preceding claim and one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the stops (41, 42, 43, 44) are each formed to surround a contact system (21, 22, 23, 24) and integrally form a guide of the respective contact system (21, 22, 23, 24).

6. Rocker switch according to one of claims 4 or 5, further comprising a housing (40) arranged at least in sections between the rocker element (10) and the base plate (30) and covering the base plate (30), which housing integrally beat (41 , 42, 43, 44).

7. Rocker switch according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first suspension element (51) is a tab with an opening and the second suspension element (52) is or has a pin extending into the opening along the respective tilt axis (K1, K2, K3, K4) or wherein the second suspension element (52) is a tab with an opening and the first suspension element (51) is or has a pin extending into the opening along the respective tilt axis (K1, K2, K3, K4).

8. Rocker switch according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tilting axes (K1, K2, K3, K4) extend to form a rectangle and two suspensions (50) are arranged at each corner of the rectangle.

9. Rocker switch according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second suspension elements (52) are provided on the housing (40) and are connected to the base plate (30) via the housing (40).

10. Rocker switch according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a region of the rocker element (10) in which the first central axis (M1) and the second central axis (M2) intersect, an opening (16) is provided, in which an actuating element (17) which can be actuated orthogonally to the central axes (M1, M2) is arranged, wherein the actuating element (17) is pressed against the rocker element (10) and can be tilted around the tilting axes (K1, K2, K3, K4) or mounted against the base plate (30) and opposite the Tilt axes (K1, K2, K3, K4) are non-tiltable. Rocker switch according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuating element (17) defines a central actuating surface (15) on a side facing away from the base plate (30), and a further contact system (25) is assigned to the actuating element (17), which can be referred to as a central contact system (25), wherein the central contact system (25) is arranged between the actuating element (17) and the base plate (30) and is designed to act on a printed circuit board (31) in a switching manner and / or to establish an electrical connection when a force acts on the central actuating surface (25).Rocker switch according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuating element (17) can be brought from a neutral position into an actuating position by the force acting on the central actuating surface (25) and the central contact system (25) is designed to exert a restoring force on the actuating element (17) that returns the actuating element (17) from its actuating position into its neutral position.

Images