Plate of an electric switch with a switch button

Abstract

To provide a plate of an electric switch having a switch button.SOLUTION: And at least one switch button integrally formed with the plate body, the switch button including a plate body and a connecting portion, the connecting portion being disposed on a periphery of the plate body, the switch button being disposed in the through hole, the plate body being connected to a hole edge of the through hole through the connecting portion and being displaceable in the through hole. When the piece of the switch button is pressed from the outside of the plate, the piece moves toward the inside of the plate with the connection part as a fulcrum, and when the switch button is not pressed, the piece returns into the through-hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical switch, and more particularly to a plate attached to an electrical switch. [Background technology]

[0002] 1 and 2 show a conventional electric switch 10 including a frame 12, a switch member 14, a button 16, and a plate 18. The frame 12 is mounted in a recess (not shown) recessed in a wall surface, and the switch member 14 is fixedly mounted on the frame 12 and has a lug 141 on its front end surface. An electric wire (not shown) is connected to the switch member 14, and the button 16 is provided with a pivot 161 that is pivotally mounted in a hole in the lug 141 of the switch member 14, allowing the button 16 to rotate about the pivot 161. The plate 18 covers the frame 12, and the button 16 is exposed through an opening 181 in the plate 18 and can be pressed.

[0003] See Figure 3. When the button 16 is pressed during use, it is swung toward the switch member 14, and the button 16 presses the switch member 14, turning the electricity on or off.

[0004] The conventional electrical switch 10 has many parts (including the button 16 and plate 18 that must be manufactured separately) and requires a relatively large number of assembly steps (including pivoting the pivot 161 of the button 16 to the lug 141 of the switch member 14), resulting in relatively high manufacturing costs and assembly labor costs.

[0005] Furthermore, the plate 18 and the button 16 of the conventional electric switch 10 lack a sense of unity, and the appearance is not very attractive. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above-mentioned problems, and have completed the present invention. One object of the present invention is to provide a plate for an electric switch that includes a switch button, which can reduce the number of parts of the electric switch, simplify the switch, and reduce costs.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a plate for an electric switch that has an integrally molded switch button, thereby giving the plate and the switch button a sense of unity and aesthetic beauty. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The plate of the electric switch with the switch button provided by the present invention comprises: a plate body having an outer surface and an inner surface; At least one through hole provided in the plate body; The plate body is integrally molded with the plate body and comprises a piece and a connecting portion, the piece having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the connecting portion includes at least one switch button provided on the periphery of the piece, the switch button is provided within the through hole, the piece is connected to the edge of the through hole via the connecting portion and is displaceable within the through hole, and when the piece of the switch button is pressed from the outside of the plate, the piece moves toward the inside of the plate with the connecting portion as a fulcrum, and when the switch button is not pressed, the piece returns to inside the through hole.

[0009] With the above-described configuration, the present invention can reduce the number of parts of the electric switch and simplify it by integrating the plate and the switch button into one part, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and assembly labor cost of the electric switch. When the plate is assembled to the electric switch, pressing the switch button can cause the switch button to activate the switch member of the electric switch.

[0010] The plate and the switch button are integrated to give the electrical switch an aesthetic appearance.

[0011] Preferably, the inner surface of the piece is flat, and the switch button operates the switch member of the electric switch with the piece itself.

[0012] Preferably, an actuating portion is provided on an inner surface of the half of the switch button, and the actuating portion protrudes from the inner surface of the half. The switch button actuates a switch member of the electric switch with the actuating portion.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting portion is located on one side of the piece, and when the piece is displaced with the connecting portion as a fulcrum, the amount of displacement of the piece on the side opposite to the connecting portion is greatest.

[0014] Preferably, the plate is made of a plastic material, the piece is flexible and can elastically return to its original position within the through hole, there is a gap between the periphery of the piece excluding the connecting portion and the edge of the through hole, and the length of the connecting portion relative to the periphery of the piece is much shorter than the length of the gap relative to the periphery of the piece.

[0015] Preferably, the piece is provided with a light-transmitting portion, and the light-transmitting portion is a light-transmitting portion of the piece. Preferably, the thickness of the portion where the light-transmitting portion is located is thinner than the thickness of the other portion of the piece.

[0016] Preferably, the thickness of the connecting portion is thinner than the thickness of the piece, so that the piece can be easily bent.

[0017] Preferably, a flange is provided on the inner surface of the plate body along the edge of the through hole, and when the piece is displaced, the flange protects and restrains the piece, preventing it from wobbling or shifting.

[0018] Preferably, the connecting portion is located on one side of the one piece, and when the one piece is displaced, the amount of displacement of the one piece on the side opposite the connecting portion side is greatest, and the amount of protrusion of the flange from the inner surface of the plate body gradually increases toward the side of the one piece opposite the connecting portion side.

[0019] Preferably, the shape of the through hole of the plate body is the same as or fits with the shape of the one half of the switch button.

[0020] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be understood from the following description of preferred embodiments and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a three-dimensional view of a conventional electrical switch. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the conventional electrical switch of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a three-dimensional front view of a plate of an electric switch according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of an electrical switch equipped with the plate of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows an exploded view. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 and illustrating an operational state when the switch button on the plate is pressed. FIG. [Figure 9] 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 and illustrating an operational state when the switch button on the plate is pressed. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a three-dimensional view of a plate of an electric switch according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention and an electric switch equipped with the plate; FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the electrical switch of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. [Figure 13] 12 and shows the operation state when the switch button on the plate is pressed. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a three-dimensional view of a plate of an electric switch according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention and an electric switch equipped with the plate; FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical switch of FIG. 14 when assembled. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional front view of a plate of an electric switch according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 17 is an exploded view of an electrical switch including the plate of FIG. 16. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional front view of a plate of an electric switch according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an exploded view of an electrical switch including the plate of FIG. 18. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] (First Preferred Embodiment) The present invention provides a plate for an electric switch equipped with a switch button. Fig. 4 is a three-dimensional front view of a plate 20 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 5 and 6 are a three-dimensional view and a three-dimensional exploded view of an electric switch 40 equipped with the plate 20.

[0023] In this preferred embodiment, the plate 20 is made by plastic injection molding, and the plate body 21 and the switch button 30 are integrally molded. The plate body 21 includes a through-hole 25, a plurality of connectors 26, and an encircling portion 28. The plate body 21 has an outer surface 22 and an inner surface 24. The through-hole 25 is provided in the plate body 21 and passes through the outer surface 22 and the inner surface 24 of the plate body 21. The plurality of connectors 26 are provided on the inner surface 24 of the plate body 21 and are hooks for connecting the plate 20 to a frame of the electric switch 40. The encircling portion 28 is formed around the outer periphery of the plate body 21 and extends toward the inner surface 24.

[0024] The switch button 30 is integrally molded with the plate body 21 and includes a piece 31 and a connecting portion 35. The piece 31 is preferably sheet-shaped and has an outer surface 32 and an inner surface 34. The connecting portion 35 is provided on the periphery of the piece 31. In this embodiment, the operating portion 36 is rib-shaped and protrudes from the inner surface 34 of the piece 31. The piece 31 is provided in the through hole 25 of the plate body 21 and is connected to the edge of the through hole 25 via the connecting portion 35. There is a gap 33 between the periphery of the piece 31 and the edge of the through hole 25 excluding the connecting portion 35, so they are not connected. The length of the connecting portion 35 relative to the periphery of the piece 31 is much shorter than the length of the gap 33 relative to the periphery of the piece 31. Due to the material properties of the connecting portion 35 and the plastic material of the plate 20, the half 31 of the switch button 30 is flexible and has elastic recovery. When the switch button 30 is pressed from the outside of the plate, the half 31 of the switch button 30 can be angularly displaced around the connecting portion 35 and removed from the through-hole 25, as shown in FIG. 8 . The displacement amount is greatest at the edge of the half 31 opposite the connecting portion 35. Since the connecting portion 35 is located on the top edge of the half 31, the displacement amount is greatest at the bottom edge of the half 31. When the applied force is released, the half 31 returns to its original shape and retracts into the through-hole 25. A support flange 37 is provided on the inner surface 24 of the plate body 21 and is arranged along the edge of the through-hole 25. In this preferred embodiment, the through-hole 25 is a rectangular hole, the connecting portion 35 is located on the top periphery of the through-hole 25, and the flange 37 is a U-shaped groove that surrounds the left, right, and bottom peripheries of the through-hole 25. When the piece 31 is removed from the through-hole 25, it is restrained by the flange 37 and does not shift left or right or wobble. The displacement amount of the bottom side of the piece 31 is greatest, and the protrusion amount of the flange 37 from the inner surface 24 gradually increases toward the bottom side of the piece 31. The flange 37 also serves to increase the structural strength of the plate body 21.

[0025] Preferably, when the switch button 30 is not pressed, the outer surface 32 of the piece 31 is flush with the outer surface 22 of the plate body 21, making the outer surface of the plate 20 completely flat. In addition, to increase the flexibility of the piece 31, the thickness of the connecting portion 35 is thinner than the thickness of the piece 31.

[0026] The light transmitting portion 38 is provided in the half 31 and allows light to easily pass through the light transmitting portion 38. In this embodiment, a strip-shaped recess 381 is provided on the inner surface 34 of the half 31, the light transmitting portion 38 is formed at the position of the recess 381, the thickness of the light transmitting portion 38 is the thinnest part of the entire half, and the light transmitting portion 38 is the part of the half that allows light to easily pass through.

[0027] Preferably, the through-hole 25 of the plate 20 and the half 31 of the switch button 30 have the same or a matching shape, such as, but not limited to, a polygonal, circular, or elliptical geometric shape, such as, but not limited to, a triangle, a square, a pentagon, or a dodecagon. The matching shape includes, but is not limited to, various concave-convex shapes, such as, but not limited to, a star, a T, a U, etc. In this preferred embodiment, the through-hole 25 and the half 31 are a square / quadrilateral, the through-hole 25 has four sides, and the connecting portion 35 of the half 31 is connected to only a portion of the top edge of the through-hole 25, and the gap 33 is present at the top edge, left and right side edges, and bottom edge of the remaining part of the through-hole.

[0028] 5 to 7, the plate 20, frame 41, and switch member 45 constitute an electric switch 40. The frame 41 has a mounting space 42 in the center, and a plurality of hanging holes 44 are provided at the four corners of the frame 41. The switch member 45 is mounted in the mounting space 42, and an electric wire (not shown) is inserted into the back surface of the switch member 45. The plate 20 is connected to the frame 41 from the front side thereof, covers the frame 41, the connector 26 of the plate 20 is hung in the hanging holes 44 of the frame, and the switch button 30 of the plate 20 faces the switch member 45.

[0029] 7 shows that the switch button 30 of the plate 20 is not pressed, the switch member 45 is in an open (OFF) state, and the electrical element 46 of the switch member 45 is in an open position. In the normal state, the piece 31 is located within the through hole 25.

[0030] 8, when the switch button 30 is pressed from outside the plate 20, the piece 31 bends with the connecting portion 35 as a fulcrum and swings toward the inside of the plate 20, and the piece 31 comes out of the through-hole 25 and moves toward the switch member 45. The actuating portion 36 of the switch button 30 presses the electric element 46 of the switch member 45 to the closed (ON) position, thereby conducting a circuit.

[0031] The switch member 45 is provided with a diode light-emitting element (not shown), and when the circuit is conductive, the light-emitting element emits red light or the like, which passes through the light-transmitting portion 38 of the switch button 30. The user can observe the red light emitted from the light-transmitting portion 38 from outside the plate 20, and can recognize that the circuit is conductive.

[0032] After the force pressing the switch button 30 is released, the piece 31 returns to the through-hole 25 of the plate body 21 due to the elastic restoring force of the switch button 30 itself, as shown in FIG.

[0033] When the user wishes to break the circuit, he or she presses the switch button 30 again from the state shown in Fig. 9, and the tab 31 moves toward the switch member 45 as shown in Fig. 8, and the actuating portion 36 presses the electric element 46 of the switch member, causing the electric element 46 to return to the open position shown in Fig. 7, thereby breaking the circuit. After the applied force is released, the switch button 30 returns into the through-hole 25. After the circuit is opened, the light-emitting element of the switch member 45 stops emitting light, and no light is transmitted through the light-transmitting portion 38, so the user knows that the circuit is in an open state.

[0034] The switch member 45 shown in the figures is a conventional switch member and also has a lug at its front end, however, it should be noted that when implementing the plate of the present invention, the switch member does not need to have a lug, as the lug on the switch member is unnecessary for the switch button of the present invention.

[0035] (Second Preferred Embodiment) 10 and 11 show a plate 20A according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention and an electrical switch 40A including said plate 20A.

[0036] The plate 20A includes a plate body 21 and a switch button 30A that are similarly integrally molded by injection molding, and the structures of the plate body 21 and the switch button 30A are the same as those of the plate shown in the first preferred embodiment, and the plate body 21 includes an outer surface 22, an inner surface 24, a through hole 25, a plurality of connectors 26, and a surrounding portion 28. The switch button 30A includes a sheet-like piece 31, an outer surface 32, an inner surface 34, a gap 33 between the piece 31 and the through hole 25, a connector 35, a flange 37, and a light-transmitting portion 38. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0037] In this preferred embodiment, the inner surface 34 of the piece 31 is flat and has no operating portion. The electric element 46 of the switch member 45 is exposed at the front end surface of the switch member.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 12, when the switch button 30A is not pressed, the piece 31 is within the through-hole 25 of the plate body 21. When attempting to make or break the circuit of the electric switch 40A, as shown in Fig. 13, when the switch button 30A is pressed, the piece 31 is displaced with the connecting portion 35 as a fulcrum, comes out of the through-hole 25 and moves toward the switch member 45. In this preferred embodiment, the piece 31 of the switch button 30A itself operates the electric element 46 of the switch member 45, switching the switch member 45 to make or break the circuit.

[0039] (Third Preferred Embodiment) 14 and 15 show a plate 20B according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention and an electrical switch 40B including said plate 20B.

[0040] The plate 20A includes a plate body 21 and a switch button 30B, which are similarly integrally molded by injection molding, and its structure is also the same as that of the plate shown in the first preferred embodiment, and the same components are given the same symbols, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

[0041] In this preferred embodiment, a block-shaped or flat actuating portion 36B is provided on the inner surface 34 of the half body 31 of the switch button 30B. An electric element 46 of a switch member 45 of the electric switch 40B is disposed on the front end surface of the switch member 45.

[0042] 15, when the switch button 30B is pressed, the half 31 of the switch button 30B moves toward the switch member 45, and the actuating portion 36B activates the electric element 46 of the switch member 45, switching the switch member 45 to make or break a circuit. After the force pressing the switch button is released, the half 31 elastically returns to the through hole 25.

[0043] (Fourth Preferred Embodiment) 16 and 17 show a plate 20C according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention and an electrical switch 40C including said plate 20C, which are given the same reference numerals as in the first preferred embodiment.

[0044] The plate 20C includes a plate body 21 and two switch buttons 30C integrally formed by injection molding, and more specifically, the plate body 21 of the plate is provided with two through holes 25. The two switch buttons 30C are respectively mounted in the two through holes 25, and the half body 31 of each switch button 30C is connected to the edge of the through hole 25 via a connecting portion 35. When the two switch buttons 30C are pressed, the half body 31 can swing around the connecting portion 35 as a fulcrum.

[0045] Two switch members 45 are mounted in the mounting space 42 of the frame 41 of the electric switch 40C. When the two switch buttons 30C are pressed, the electric elements of the two switch members 45 can be activated, respectively.

[0046] (Fifth Preferred Embodiment) 18 and 19 show a plate 20D and an electric switch 40D including said plate 20D according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and are given the same reference numerals as in the first preferred embodiment.

[0047] The plate 20D includes a plate body 21 and three switch buttons 30D integrally molded by injection molding, and the plate body 21 of the plate is provided with three through holes 25. The three switch buttons 30D are respectively mounted in the three through holes 25, and the half body 31 of each switch button 30D is connected to the edge of the through hole 25 via a connecting portion 35. When the three switch buttons 30D are pressed, the half body 31 can swing around the connecting portion 35 as a fulcrum.

[0048] The three switch members 45 are mounted in the mounting space 42 of the frame 41 of the electric switch 40D. When the three switch buttons 30D are pressed, the electric elements of the three switch members 45 can be activated, respectively.

[0049] The switch buttons 30C and 30D of the fourth and fifth preferred embodiments may have the structure of the first preferred embodiment in which a rib-shaped operating portion 36 is provided on the inner surface 34 of the half body 31 to press the switch member, or may have the structure of the second preferred embodiment in which no operating portion is provided on the inner surface 34 of the half body 31 and the half body 31 itself directly operates the switch member, or may have the structure of the third preferred embodiment in which a block-shaped or flat operating portion 36B is provided on the inner surface 34 of the half body 31 and the operating portion 36B operates the switch member.

[0050] The plate 20 (including 20A to 20D) provided in the present invention combines the plate and the switch button 30 (including 30A to 30D) into a single part, and the plate 20 and the switch button 30 are molded simultaneously in a single injection molding process, thereby reducing and simplifying the components of the electric switch, and eliminating the need to assemble the plate 20 and the switch button 30 separately, thereby significantly reducing the time and cost of manufacturing and assembly.

[0051] A technical feature of the present invention is that the plate 20 and the switch button 30 are integrated together to give the electrical switch a beautiful, unified appearance. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer surface of the plate body 21 is flush with the outer surface of the piece 31, and the outer surface of the plate is completely flat.

[0052] The above embodiments are only intended to illustrate the features of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention, and any equivalent modifications to the claims of the present invention shall be deemed to fall within the protection scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10 Electrical Switch 12 Frame 14 Switch member 141 Rug 16 buttons 161 Axis 18 plates 181 Opening 20, 20A~20D Plates 21 Plate body 22 External surface 24 Inner surface 25 through holes 26 Connector 28 Surrounding part 30, 30A~30D Switch button 31 one piece 32 External surface 33 Gap 34 Inner surface 35 Connecting part 36 Operating unit 37 Flange 38 Light transmission part 381 recess 40, 40A~40D Electrical Switch 41 Frame 42 Mounting space 44 Hanging hole 45 Switch parts 46 Electrical Elements

Claims

1. a plate body having an outer surface and an inner surface; At least one through hole provided in the plate body; a plate for an electric switch with a switch button, including at least one switch button integrally formed with the plate body, the switch button having a piece and a connecting portion, the piece having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the connecting portion being provided on a periphery of the piece, The plate for an electric switch equipped with a switch button, wherein the switch button is provided within the through hole, the piece is connected to the edge of the through hole via the connecting portion and is displaceable within the through hole, and when the piece of the switch button is pressed from the outer surface of the switch button, the piece moves toward the inside of the plate with the connecting portion as a fulcrum, and when the switch button is not pressed, the piece returns to within the through hole.

2. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the piece is flat.

3. The plate according to claim 1 , wherein an actuating portion is provided on an inner surface of the half of the switch button, and the actuating portion protrudes from the inner surface of the half.

4. The plate according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion is located on one side of the piece, and when the piece is displaced, the amount of displacement of the piece on the side opposite to the connecting portion side is greatest.

5. 2. The plate according to claim 1, wherein the piece is flexible and can elastically return to its original position within the through hole, and a gap is formed between the periphery of the piece excluding the connecting portion and the edge of the through hole, and the length of the connecting portion relative to the periphery of the piece is shorter than the length of the gap relative to the periphery of the piece.

6. The plate according to claim 1 , wherein the piece is provided with a light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion being a light-transmitting portion of the piece.

7. The plate according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the connecting portion is less than the thickness of the piece.

8. The plate according to claim 1 , wherein a flange is provided on an inner surface of the plate body along an edge of the through hole.

9. 9. The plate according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portion is located on one side of the one piece, and when the one piece is displaced, the amount of displacement of the one piece on the side opposite the connecting portion side is greatest, and the amount of protrusion of the flange from the inner surface of the plate body gradually increases toward the side of the one piece opposite the connecting portion side.

10. The plate according to claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of the plate body and the piece of the switch button have the same or a fitting shape.

Images