LOCK PUSH BUTTON

Abstract

A locking push button has an outer housing and a button assembly movable relative to the outer housing. The button assembly includes an actuator comprising a shoulder and a ramped surface. The locking push button also includes a tail movable relative to the outer housing and a spring retainer engaged with the tail. The shoulder is configured to engage and drive the tail axially along a longitudinal axis when the button assembly is in an unlocked and pressed state, and a portion of the spring retainer is configured to engage and move radially outward along the ramped surface when the button assembly is in a locked and pressed state.

Description

LOCK PUSH BUTTON Cross-reference to related application(s) This application claims priority over Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 357,129, filed on June 30, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Field of the invention This invention relates in general to locking push buttons, used for example in automotive configurations. Brief description of the invention In one aspect, the invention provides a locking push button having an outer housing and a button assembly movable relative to the outer housing. The button assembly includes an actuator comprising a shoulder and a ramped surface. The locking push button also includes a tail movable relative to the outer housing and a spring retainer coupled to the tail. The shoulder is configured to engage and drive the tail axially along a longitudinal axis when the button assembly is in an unlocked and pressed state, and the spring retainer is configured to engage by the ramped surface when the button assembly is in a locked and pressed state. In one aspect, the invention provides a locking push button having an outer housing and a button assembly movable relative to the outer housing. The button assembly includes an actuator comprising a shoulder, a ramped surface, and an actuator groove. The locking push button also includes a tail movable relative to the outer housing. The tail includes a tail groove. The shoulder is configured to engage and drive the tail axially along a longitudinal axis when the button assembly is in an unlocked and pressed state, and the shoulder is configured to slide within the tail when the button assembly is in a locked and pressed state. Other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking push button according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the lock push button of Figure 1, including a button assembly in an unpressed state. Figure 3 is a side view of the lock push button of Figure 1, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and pressed state. Figure 4 is a side view of the locking push button of Figure 1, illustrating the button assembly bl hbnn / P7n7 / B / YI in a locked and pressed state. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lock push button of Figure 1, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and unpressed state. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the lock push button of Figure 1, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and pressed state. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 1, illustrating the button assembly in a locked and unpressed state. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 1, illustrating a button assembly in a locked and pressed state. Figure 9 is a partial, perspective view of the actuator and tail of the locking push button in Figure 1. Figures 10 to 12 are perspective, cross-sectional views of the locking push button of Figure 1, which illustrate the button assembly in the locked and pressed state and illustrate how the actuator can be rotated to release a retaining pin from the actuator and allow the button assembly to return to the unpressed state. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the push-button lock according to another modality. Figure 14 is an exploded view of the locking push button of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the locking push button of Figure 13, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and unpressed state. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional side view of the lock push button of Figure 13, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and pressed state. Figure 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 13, illustrating the button assembly in a locked and unpressed state. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 13, illustrating a button assembly in a locked and pressed state. Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the locking push button of Figure 13. Figure 20 is a perspective view of the lock push button according to another modality, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and unpressed state. Figure 21 is a perspective view of the lock push button in Figure 20, illustrating the button assembly in a locked and pressed state. Figure 22 is a side view of the lock push button in Figure 20, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and unpressed state. Figure 23 is a side view of the lock push button of Figure 20, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and pressed state. Figure 24 is a side view of the lock push button of Figure 20, illustrating the button assembly in a locked and pressed state. Figure 25 is a side, cross-sectional view of the locking push button in the figure 20, which illustrates a button assembly in an unlocked and unpressed state. Figure 26 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 20, illustrating a button assembly in an unlocked and pressed state. Figure 27 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 20, in a locked and unpressed state. Figure 28 is a cross-sectional side view of the locking push button of Figure 20, in a locked and pressed state. Figures 29 and 30 are partial perspective views of the actuator and the tail of the locking push button in Figure 20, which illustrates a safety spring. Figures 31 and 32 are cross-sectional views of the locking push button of Figure 20, which illustrates the safety spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Before explaining any embodiment of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the construction details and component configurations mentioned in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is susceptible to other embodiments and can be implemented in different ways. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a locking push button 10 comprising an outer housing 14, a button assembly 18 movable relative to the outer housing 14, and a tail 22 movable relative to the outer housing 14. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the button assembly 18 is adjustable (e.g., linearly movable) along a longitudinal axis A1 between an unpressed state (Figure 2) and a pressed state (Figures 3 and 4).As illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the button assembly 18 includes an internal member 24 (for example, a cylinder) that can also be adjusted (for example, rotated) about the longitudinal axis A1 between an unlocked state and a locked state (for example, with a key), so that when the button assembly 18 is pressed in the unlocked state (Figure 3), the tail 22 moves linearly away from the outer case 14, and when the button assembly 18 is pressed in the locked state (Figure 4), the tail does not move linearly away from the outer case 14. With reference to Figures 5 to 8, in the illustrated form, the outer case 14 is generally an elongated, hollow cylindrical structure extending along the longitudinal axis A1. The outer case 14 includes a front end 26 and a rear end 30 separated from the front end 26 along the longitudinal axis A1. Other forms may include different shapes and sizes of the illustrated outer case 14. With reference to Figures 1 and 5, a bezel 34 (for example, an annular or generally circular bezel 34) is attached to the front end 26 of the outer case 14. As illustrated in Figure 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the bezel 34 includes symbols along its front, indicating both the locked state of the button assembly 18 (for example, the symbol seen on the top of the bezel 34 in Figure 1) and an unlocked state of the button assembly 18 (for example, the symbol seen on the left side of the bezel 34 in Figure 1). Other embodiments may include different symbols or may not include any symbols at all. As illustrated in Figure 5, the bezel 34 is attached to the outer case 14 with cylindrical steel pins 38 extending radially inward toward the longitudinal axis A1.In other versions, the bezel 34 is attached to the outer case 14 with structures different from cylindrical steel pins or, for example, they are integrated as a single piece with the outer case 14. With reference to Figure 1, in the illustrated form, the button assembly 18 also includes a central opening 42 for inserting a key or other structure that can be inserted into the button assembly 18 and is used to rotate the internal member 24 of the button assembly 18 (e.g., 90 degrees or other values ​​and ranges of values) around the longitudinal axis A1 between the locked and unlocked states. With reference to Figures 5 to 8, an actuator 46 is coupled (e.g., directly coupled) to the inner member 24 of the button assembly 18 and is positioned inside (e.g., completely inside) the outer housing 14. The actuator 46 is rotationally fixed to the inner member 24 of the button assembly 18, such that rotation of the inner member 24 of the button assembly 18 about the longitudinal axis A1 between the locked and unlocked states also rotates the actuator 46. The actuator 46 includes a front end 50 and a rear end 54 separated from the front end 50 along the longitudinal axis A1. The front end 50 is coupled (e.g., fixed) to the inner member 24 of the button assembly 18, and a rear end 54 is coupled (e.g., driven) or slides within the tail 22, depending on whether the button assembly 18 is in the locked or unlocked state. As illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the tail 22 does not rotate. Rather, the tail 22 is driven axially by a driving element 58 (for example, a compression spring or other type of spring) toward the actuator 46 and the entire button assembly 18, and moves axially, depending on whether the button assembly 18 is in the locked or unlocked state, and whether the button assembly 18 has been pressed. In the illustrated embodiment, the tail 22 includes a top element 60 (for example, a washer or other projection) that is located outside the outer housing 14. The stop element 60 limits the forward axial movement of the tail 22. With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the actuator 46 includes a shoulder 62 (for example, a protrusion or an extended surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1) that is sized and shaped to engage and drive against the tail 22 when the button assembly 18 is in the unlocked state and the button assembly 18 is pressed. The movement of the shoulder 62 against the tail 22 causes the tail 22 to move against the force of the driving element 58 and causes a portion (for example, more than half) of the tail 22 to extend axially out of the outer housing 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the shoulder 62 is part of or adjacent to the rear end 54 of the actuator 46. In addition, the tail 22 includes a recess 66 that receives at least a portion of the rear end 54 of the actuator 46 that extends axially beyond the shoulder 62, so that the actuator 46 is generally centered and / or aligned with the tail 22.Other modalities may include different shoulder locations 62 different from those illustrated. With reference to Figures 7 to 9, the actuator 46 also includes a ramp surface 70 and an actuator groove 74 (for example, a slot or other rebate), both located along the outer side of the actuator 46. In the polished embodiment, the ramp surface 70 is part of or adjacent to the rear end 54 of the actuator 46. The actuator groove 74 is separate from and located axially from the ramp surface 70, closer to the front end 50 of the actuator 46. Other embodiments may include different locations for the ramp surface 70 and the actuator groove 74 than those shown in the polished version. With continued reference to Figures 7 to 9, the tail 22 includes a locking pin 78. The locking pin 78 extends radially inward within the recess 66 of the tail 22, and toward the longitudinal axis A1. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the tail 22 includes a front end 82 having a tail groove 86 (e.g., slot or other recess). A driving element 90 (e.g., a wire spring or other spring, shown schematically) can be placed in the tail groove 86 and can drive the locking pin 78 radially inward toward the longitudinal axis A1. Other embodiments may include different types and configurations of a driving element 90 and / or the locking pin 78, and also different locations for a driving element 90 and / or locking pin 78 in the illustrated versions. With continued reference to Figures 7 to 9, when the button assembly 18 is in the locked state and pressed, the actuator 46 moves axially within the recess 66 of the tail 22. The actuator 46 is sized and shaped so that it fits and slides within the recess 66 without engaging and driving the tail 22 axially in this state. Thus, the tail 22 remains stationary as the actuator 46 moves axially backward into the outer housing 14 and into the tail 22. As the actuator 46 moves axially backward, the ramped surface 70 of the actuator 46 eventually engages and slides over the locking pin 78, forcing the locking pin 78 to move radially outward (e.g., against the driving force of the driving element 90).As the actuator 46 moves further into the recess 66 of the tail 22, the locking pin 78 eventually snaps radially inward and engages the groove of the actuator 74 (e.g., by the driving force of the driving element 90), thereby locking the actuator 46 axially in place relative to the tail 22. With reference to Figures 5 to 8, in some embodiments, the button assembly 18 can be coupled to a driving element 94 (for example, a spring). The driving element can be located, for example, inside the outer housing 14 (for example, in a space defined by the tail 22 and the actuator 46, including, for example, the recess 66). In some embodiments, the driving element 94 may be coupled to both the button assembly 18 and the outer housing 14, or it may be coupled, for example, to the button assembly 18 and the tail 22. The driving element 94 may drive the button assembly 18 axially (for example, forward) along the longitudinal axis A1, so that once the locking pin 78 is released, the button assembly 18 automatically slides forward axially along the longitudinal axis A1, and at least a portion of the actuator 46 slides forward axially out of the recess 66 of the tail 22. With reference to Figures 10 to 12, the locking pin 78 can be released from the slot in the actuator 74 (and thus the actuator 46 can be released from the tail 22) by rotating the actuator 46 relative to the tail 22 until the locking pin 78 is no longer inside the slot in the actuator 74 (Figure 12). Once released, the actuator 46 (and the button assembly 18) are free to move axially relative to the tail 22 and the outer housing 14. During use, and with reference to Figures 1 to 12, the button assembly 18 can be in a locked or unlocked state, depending on the rotational position of the internal member 24 and the actuator 46 of the button assembly 18. As illustrated in Figures 3, 5, and 6, when the button assembly 18 is in the unlocked state, and the button assembly 18 is pressed, the shoulder 62 on the actuator 46 engages with the tail 22 and drives the tail 22 axially backward against the driving force of the driving element 58, so that the tail 22 moves axially with the button assembly 18 and the actuator 46 at the same time.Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4, 7, and 8, when the button assembly 18 is in the locked state and the button assembly 18 is pressed, the ramped surface 70 on the actuator 46 slides over the locking pin 78, and the assembly 46 slides toward the stationary tail 22 until the locking pin 78 is pressed radially inward again into the actuator groove 74 in the actuator 46, thus locking the actuator 46 to the tail 22. The internal member 24 (and the associated actuator 46) can then be rotated, as shown in Figures 10 to 12, to release the locking pin 78 from the actuator groove 74, and the button assembly 18 can return to an unpressed state. Figures 13 to 19 illustrate a locking push button 110. The locking push button 110 includes an outer housing 114, a button assembly 118 movable relative to the outer housing 114, a tail 122 movable relative to the outer housing 114 and having a groove 186 (e.g., a notch or other recess), and an actuator 146 having a shoulder 162, a ramped surface 170, and an actuator groove 174. The locking push button 110, however, does not include a driven, sliding set pin (such as set pin 78). Instead, the locking push button 110 includes a spring retainer 198 (i.e., a safety spring). As illustrated in Figures 13 to 18, the spring retainer 198 can have a U shape that includes a first arm 202 and a second arm 206.The spring retainer 198 may be positioned at least partially within the tail groove 186 (or in another groove) along the tail 122, so that the first arm 202 and the second arm 206 are arranged along opposite sides of the tail 122 and are naturally driven inward relative to each other. As illustrated in Figure 17, the actuator 146 may include two ramp surfaces 170 and two actuator grooves 174 (as opposed to a single ramp surface 70 and actuator groove 74 in Figures 1 to 12).As illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, when the button assembly 118 is in the locked state and the button assembly 118 is pressed, the ramped surface 170 on the actuator 146 separates the first arm 202 and the second arm 206 from each other (against the impulse force of the spring retainer 198), and the actuator 146 slides into the stationary tail 122 until the first arm 202 and the second arm 202 are pressed again into the actuator slots 174 on the actuator 146, which locks the actuator 146 with the tail 122. Figures 20 to 32 illustrate a locking push button 210. The locking push button 210 includes an outer housing 214, a button assembly 218 movable relative to the outer housing 214, a tail 222 movable relative to the outer housing 214 and having a tail slot 286 (e.g., a slit or other recess) (Figures 27 to 30), and an actuator 246, each having a shoulder 262 (Figures 25 and 26), ramp surfaces 270 (Figures 27 to 30), and actuator slots 274 (e.g., slits or other recesses) (Figures 27 to 32). In the illustrated form, the ramp surfaces 270 include first and second ramp surfaces 270 positioned opposite each other along the actuator 246 and the actuator slots 274 include first and second actuator slots 274 positioned opposite each other along the actuator 246 and adjacent to the ramp surfaces 270.In the illustrated version, the actuator slots 274 are generally rectangular, although other versions include different shapes. The locking push button 210, however, does not include a driven, sliding locking pin (such as the locking pin 78). Instead, the locking push button 210 includes a spring retainer 298 (i.e., a safety spring). As illustrated in Figures 29 to 32, the spring retainer 298 may have a U-shape including a first arm 302 and a second arm 306. The spring retainer 298 may be positioned at least partially within the tail groove 286 (or in another groove) along the tail 222, so that the first arm 302 and the second arm 306 are arranged along opposite sides of the tail 222 and are naturally driven inward relative to each other. As illustrated in Figures 27 to 30, the location of the spring retainer 298 is generally at a front end 282 of the tail 222, compared to the location of the spring retainer 198 in Figures 13 to 19, which is located more centrally along the tail 122. With reference to Figures 27 to 32, in the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 246 includes two ramp surfaces 270 and two actuator grooves 274.When the button assembly 218 is in the locked state and the button assembly 218 is pressed, the ramped surfaces 270 on the actuator 246 separate the first arm 302 and the second arm 306 from each other (e.g., axially separated) against the impulse force of the spring retainer 298, and the actuator 246 (including the shoulder 262) slides into the stationary tail 222 until the first arm 302 and the second arm 306 are pressed again into the actuator slots 274 on the actuator 246, which locks the actuator 246 to the tail 222. To release the spring retainer 298, the button assembly 218 is rotated (Figures 31 and 32) until the spring retainer 198 is no longer positioned within the actuator slots 274. With continued reference to Figures 20 to 28, in the illustrated embodiment, the locking push button 210 also includes a bezel 234 (for example, a decorative bezel, generally annular or circular in shape 234) attached to the outer housing 214. The bezel 234 may include, for example, symbols along its front 234, indicating the locked state of the push button assembly 218 (for example, the symbol seen on the top of the bezel 234 in Figure 21) and the unlocked state of the push button assembly 218 (for example, the symbol shown on the left side of the bezel 234 in Figure 21). As illustrated in Figures 25 to 28, in some embodiments, the locking push button 210 also includes a seal (for example, a Tonca gasket) 236 positioned and / or captured between the bezel 234 and the outer housing 214. With continued reference to Figures 25 to 28, in the illustrated embodiment, the locking push button 210 also includes a first compression spring 240 within the outer housing 214, which is positioned between the button assembly 218 and the tail 222, and a second compression spring 244, which is positioned between the tail 222 and the end of the outer housing 214. The first and second compression springs 240, 244 drive the button assembly 218 and the tail 222 axially (to the left in Figures 25 to 28) to the unpressed state. The tail 222 also includes a stop element 260 that limits the axial movement of the tail 222. Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.

Claims

1. A locking push button comprising: an outer housing; a button assembly movable relative to the outer housing, the button assembly including an actuator, the actuator including a shoulder and a ramped surface; a tail movable relative to the outer housing; and a spring retainer coupled to the tail; wherein the shoulder is configured to engage and urge the tail axially along a longitudinal axis when the button assembly is in an unlocked and depressed state, and wherein a portion of the spring retainer is configured to engage and move outwardly along the ramped surface when the button assembly is in a locked and depressed state.

2. The locking push button according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an actuator slot, wherein the spring retainer is configured to snap fit within the actuator slot.

3. The locking push button according to claim 2, wherein the actuator slot is positioned adjacent to the ramped surface.

4. The locking push button according to claim 3, wherein the ramped surface is a first ramped surface and the actuator slot is a first actuator slot, wherein the actuator includes a second ramped surface positioned opposite the first ramped surface and a second actuator slot opposite the first actuator slot, wherein the second actuator slot is positioned adjacent to the second ramped surface.

5. The locking push button according to claim 2, wherein the tail includes a tail slot, wherein the spring retainer is positioned at least partially within the tail slot.

6. The locking push button according to claim 5, wherein the tail slot is positioned at the front end of the tail.

7. The locking push button according to claim 1, wherein the spring retainer is U-shaped.

8. The locking push button according to claim 1, wherein the spring retainer includes a first arm and a second arm, wherein the spring retainer is positioned at least partially within the groove of the tail, such that the first arm and the second arm are arranged along opposite sides of the tail and are naturally urged inwardly toward each other.

9. The locking push button according to claim 8, wherein the ramped surface is configured to engage the first arm and move the first arm outwardly, against the biasing force of the spring retainer.

10. The locking push button according to claim 9, wherein the ramped surface is a first ramped surface and the actuator slot is a first actuator slot, wherein the actuator includes a second ramped surface positioned opposite the first ramped surface and a second actuator slot positioned opposite the first actuator slot, wherein the second ramped surface is configured to engage the second arm and to move the second arm outwardly against the biasing force of the spring retainer.

11. The locking push button according to claim 1, further comprising a bezel coupled to the outer case, and an O-ring seal positioned between the outer case and the bezel.

12. The locking push button according to claim 1, further comprising a compression spring positioned between the button assembly and the tail.

13. The locking push button according to claim 12, wherein the compression spring is a first compression spring, wherein the locking push button includes a second compression spring positioned between the tail and an end of the outer case.

14. The locking push button according to claim 13, wherein the tail includes a stop element that limits axial movement of the tail.

15. The locking push button according to claim 1, wherein the button assembly is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis between the locked state and the unlocked state.

16. A locking push button comprising: an outer housing; a button assembly movable relative to the outer housing, the button assembly including an actuator, the actuator including a shoulder, a ramp surface, and an actuator slot; and a tail movable relative to the outer housing, the tail including a tail slot; the shoulder being configured to engage and urge the tail axially along a longitudinal axis when the button assembly is in an unlocked and depressed state, and the shoulder being configured to slide within the tail when the button assembly is in a locked and depressed state.

17. The locking push button according to claim 16, further comprising a spring retainer positioned at least partially within the tail slot.

18. The locking push button according to claim 16, wherein the actuator slot is positioned adjacent to the ramped surface.

19. The locking push button according to claim 18, wherein the ramped surface is a first ramped surface and the actuator slot is a first actuator slot, wherein the actuator includes a second ramped surface positioned opposite the first ramped surface and a second actuator slot opposite the first actuator slot, wherein the second actuator slot is positioned adjacent the second ramped surface.

20. The locking push button according to claim 16, further comprising a first compression spring positioned between the button assembly and the tail and a second compression spring positioned between the tail and an end of the outer housing.

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