Pushbutton

Abstract

It is known to illuminate pushbuttons for the actuation of, for example, doorbells and thus to create an attractive effect in an entrance area. For this purpose, it is possible to select the lighting colour of the respective pushbutton, but the corresponding colour first has to be fully defined, as a result of which a new pushbutton also has to be acquired if the doorbell is reconfigured. Reprogramming is likewise possible if a microcontroller is used, but this is a considerable expense for a simple doorbell. It is therefore proposed to provide a pushbutton which allows adjustable illumination directly via a multiple switch on a housing of the pushbutton itself. Such a device provides the user with flexibility in the selection of the colours without a plurality of components being necessary for this purpose. In addition, the present invention represents a cost-effective and, at the same time, compact element.

Description

[0001] PUSH BUTTON

[0002] The present invention relates to a push button for actuating an electrical device, comprising a housing with a switching element attached to a visible side of the housing for actuating terminals attached to an installation side of the housing.

[0003] Such devices for operating an electrical device are already known from the prior art and assume that, for individualization at the house entrance, the push button on the doorbell plate should be chosen to match the other colors in this area.

[0004] US20050152128 A1 discloses a switch panel with a light source consisting of a multitude of colored LEDs. The color is controlled by a microcontroller's switch, depending on the event. Furthermore, JP4386389 B2 discloses a push button with multiple lamps that can be illuminated either fully or partially. Switching is also accomplished via a DIP switch, but the housing is extremely wide to accommodate a microcontroller.

[0005] Connecting a microcontroller to a push button is relatively complex and requires additional wiring, which is quite extensive for the average consumer. Self-assembly is therefore generally not feasible. The alternative is to obtain a push button that is pre-set to a specific color, but this cannot be changed later. Besides the fact that this is a fixed color, there is also the problem that if the wrong packaging is used in the mail-order company's warehouse, a complete reshipment is necessary. Furthermore, the mail-order company's warehouse must maintain a separate storage area and stock for each color option.

[0006] Against this background, the present invention aims to create a push button for actuating an electrical device that enables adjustable lighting which can be easily adjusted by unskilled personnel.

[0007] This is achieved by a push button according to the features of independent claim 1. Useful embodiments of such a push button can be found in the subsequent dependent claims.

[0008] The invention provides a push button for actuating an electrical device, comprising a housing with a switching element attached to a visible side of the housing for actuating terminals attached to an installation side of the housing. According to the invention, such a push button is characterized in that the switching element is associated with a diffuser illuminated by a plurality of different colored LEDs, and the housing is provided with at least one, preferably exactly one, manually operated switching contact for each of the LEDs for switching the individual LEDs on and off.

[0009] Such a compact design allows for easy installation and replacement in any location. No new component needs to be purchased to use different lighting colors; instead, the existing component can simply be reconfigured by switching the manually operated contact. This requires only a few steps and generally no tools, making future reconfiguration easy. While the configuration options are limited to a small number of colors, experience has shown that this selection is generally considered perfectly adequate and even a convenience.

[0010] Due to its compact design and the ability to individually adjust multiple colors, the subject matter of the present invention can be used in several fields of application. Since no new product needs to be ordered to use the switch in a different color, this also simplifies product inventory management, as each color does not need to be stored and sold individually. This also simplifies distribution and product availability. Furthermore, a customer does not need to purchase a new product if they later decide they prefer a different color. Instead, they can simply select a different color on the same product. This represents a significantly improved solution from both a cost and environmental perspective.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the LEDs may comprise one red, one green, and one blue LED. Using the classic RGB colors allows for a wider range of colors. If, in particular, each LED is simply switched on or off completely, only three switches, such as DIP switches, are required to enable a total of eight color combinations. These include, in addition to completely off (unlit) and completely on (which adds up to white), the primary colors red, green, and blue when only one LED is illuminated at a time, as well as yellow when both the red and green LEDs are illuminated, magenta when both the red and blue LEDs are illuminated, and turquoise when both the green and blue LEDs are illuminated.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the switching contacts can be combined in a multi-switch element and configured as a DIP switch, one or more jumpers, or a rotary / selector switch. Such components are cost-efficient, compact, and easy to configure, thus simplifying manufacturing and handling while saving costs. Furthermore, additional switch positions allow for different brightness levels of the LEDs to create further color variations. Preferably, multiple color combinations can be displayed by combining the installed LEDs and / or varying their brightness.

[0013] In a further embodiment, it seems advantageous to use a diffuser in front of the LEDs, which distributes the light from individual LEDs evenly across its surface on the visible side of the push button. Depending on the shape of the button's contact surface, the diffuser can be an elliptical, particularly round, or polygonal ring arranged around the button. The resulting diffusion illuminates the entire diffuser with a uniformly mixed color, whereas without it, the individual LEDs would be visible to the viewer, and the color mixing would potentially be incomplete.

[0014] The invention described above will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

[0015] They show

[0016] Figure 1 shows a push button in an oblique view in a perspective representation,

[0017] Figure 2 shows a possible schematic circuit diagram with a jumper for each LED,

[0018] Figure 3 shows a dip switch installed in the housing for direct control of the color setting of the light sources installed in the push button housing, in perspective view, as well as

[0019] Figure 4 shows a possible schematic circuit diagram for the

[0020] Case where a rotary switch with four switch positions is installed.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a push button 1 with a housing 2 in a perspective oblique view, directed towards a visible side 3 of the housing 2. A switching element 4 for actuating the push button 1 is attached to the visible side 3. This element comprises a ring-shaped arrangement of translucent and diffuse material, behind which several light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted. The translucent material is preferably glass or acrylic glass, but it can also be a transparent plastic, forming a diffuser 5. The light coupled into the diffuser 5 is distributed evenly within it by being repeatedly reflected off the numerous surfaces, thus allowing for uniform illumination of the diffuser with either one or multiple LEDs.Behind the diffuser 5 are light-emitting diodes connected to a multi-contact element 8, which enables different adjustable color combinations by selectively operating certain light-emitting diodes and / or varying their brightness.

[0022] A screw thread is provided on an outer wall of the housing 2, which engages with the thread of a hexagonal threaded ring. When mounted on a doorbell plate, the ring can be attached to the inner wall of the plate using a wrench, so that only the push button protrudes from the outer wall and the push button 1 itself is largely protected from dust, dirt, water, and vandalism. On the mounting side 6 of the housing 2 facing away from the viewer, terminals 7 are provided to allow the push button 1 to be connected to an electrical system, such as a doorbell, and, if necessary, to an additional power supply.

[0023] Figure 2 shows one possible wiring configuration for the aforementioned LEDs. Three LEDs are connected in parallel and can be individually switched on and off using jumpers. If the LEDs are arranged from left to right in red, blue, and green, setting only the leftmost jumper will cause only the red LED to illuminate, thus lighting the diffuser in red. Setting only the second or third jumper will illuminate it in blue or green, respectively. Setting two jumpers activates two LEDs, resulting in the mixed colors yellow, magenta, and turquoise, depending on the selection. Setting all jumpers produces white through additive color mixing.

[0024] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a possible multi-contact element integrated into the push button, in an exemplary representation of a multi-switch. In an advantageous embodiment, the multi-switch can be a DIP switch, one or more jumpers as shown and described in Figure 2, or a rotary or selector switch, and can be used to set multiple colors by varying the brightness of the LEDs connected to the multi-switch or by switching off certain LEDs completely. A multitude of color mixtures can be achieved by combining several LEDs.

[0025] Preferably, RGB LEDs should be chosen so that a wide range of colors can be displayed when they work together. Depending on the switch position on the multi-switch, the specified colors can be combined to create a single color.

[0026] Figure 4 shows a schematic circuit diagram for the case where a four-position rotary switch is used to control three LEDs. In this very simple circuit, either one of the three LEDs is switched on, or none of them are. It is also possible, though not shown here, to operate one LED less brightly than another by means of a series resistor, resulting in a different color combination.

[0027] The above description thus describes a push button for operating an electrical device that enables adjustable lighting, which can be easily adjusted by unskilled personnel.

[0028] REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST 1 Pushbutton

[0029] 2 cases

[0030] 3. Visible side of the housing

[0031] 4 switching element

[0032] 5 Diffuser 6 Mounting side of the housing

[0033] 7 connections

[0034] 8 Multiple contact element

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 08 May 2025 (08.05.2025) 1. Pushbutton for actuating an electrical device, comprising a housing (2) with a switching element (4) attached to a visible side of the housing (3) for actuating terminals (7) attached to a mounting side of the housing (6), wherein the switching element (4) is associated with a diffuser (5) which is illuminated by a plurality of different colored LEDs and the housing (2) is assigned at least one, preferably exactly one, manually actuated switching contact for switching the individual LEDs on and off, characterized in that the switching contacts are combined in a multi-switching element (8) and are designed as a DIP switch, one or more jumpers or a rotary / selector switch, wherein several color combinations can be represented by combining the installed LEDs and / or varying their brightness.

2. Pushbutton according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-emitting diodes comprise a red, a green and a blue light-emitting diode.

3. Pushbutton according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the diffuser (5) is an elliptical or polygonal ring which is arranged around the switching element (4). AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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