Electrical switching device with light indication function

Abstract

FIELD: switching devices.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a switching device (1) comprising a control key (30) configured to rotate around a rotary axis between two different angular positions relative to a flat part (23) located under the control key, and a lighting device comprising two light sources (112). The switching device includes a flat part which comprises two slots located oppositely on a positioning axis perpendicular to said rotary axis, under a control key, wherein under the flat part there are two light sources for emitting a light flux through the slots to the outside of said switching device, wherein the relative position of the slots and the control key are calculated so that in each of the two angular positions the control key closes one slot and leaves the other slot free.EFFECT: showing the exact location of the control key that should be pressed to control the switching.11 cl, 20 dwg

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a switching device comprising a control key configured to rotate around a rotary axis between two different angular positions relative to a flat part that is located under the control key, and a lighting device comprising two light sources.

[0002] There are various switching devices of the above-mentioned type, in which the lighting device contains an indicator that continuously illuminates the front of the switching device. This continuous illumination allows the user to determine the position of the switching device in the dark.

[0003] Among the known switching devices, there are devices containing an indicator located in the central area directly below the control key. This indicator illuminates the front of the control key through small holes in the control key. There are also switching devices containing multiple indicators located along the edges of the device. Some known switching devices include a light guide, which creates a halo of light around the control key.

[0004] Unlike known devices, this invention proposes a new switching device, the arrangement of which allows for alternately illuminating two specific areas of the front part of the device in order to show, in particular in the dark, the exact location of the control key on which the user's finger must press in order to turn the control key to control the switching of the switching device mechanism.

[0005] In particular, the present invention proposes a switching device, characterized in the introductory part, in which the said flat part contains two slots located under the control key oppositely on the positioning axis, perpendicular to the said rotary axis, and in which under the flat part two light sources are located for emitting a light flux through the slots to the outside of the said switching device, wherein the relative position of the slots and the control key are calculated in such a way that in each of the two angular positions the control key closes one slot and leaves the other slot free.

[0006] Other distinctive features of the declared switching device are:

[0007] - it contains a device mechanism, and the two light sources belong to two different indicators electrically connected to each other through an electric wire and supplied with current through the said device mechanism;

[0008] - the mechanism of the device is located in a box with two opposite outer sides on which two indicators are installed;

[0009] - each indicator comprises a base equipped with a means for snapping onto the corresponding device of the switching device box;

[0010] - the base of each indicator comprises guide means configured to interact with mating guide means located on the box of the switching device, wherein these guide means are connected to said latching means in order to guide said indicator to its latching position on the box;

[0011] - said flat part belongs to the bracket of the device to which the box containing the mechanism of the switching device is connected, and this flat part extends along the front opening of said box;

[0012] - the specified device bracket forms a single monoblock part with the specified switching device box;

[0013] - said flat part belongs to the box in which the mechanism of the device is located, it is part of the front wall, passing along the edge of the front opening of said box and intended to at least partially close the opening of the bracket of the device in which said box is located, mechanically mounted on said bracket of the device;

[0014] - the control key has a flat back side, the two parts of which are designed to alternately close the outlets of the specified slots located on the front side of the specified flat part facing the specified control key;

[0015] - the control key has two different ribs protruding from its rear side, wherein each rib is designed with the possibility of entering into a gap covered by the said control key; and

[0016] - both slots extend on both sides of the specified positioning axis along two circular arcs belonging to a circle centered at the intersection point between the specified rotary axis and the specified positioning axis.

[0017] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, presented as non-limiting examples, helps to understand the essence of the invention and its implementation.

[0018] On the attached drawings:

[0019] Fig. 1 shows an electrical kit containing the claimed switching device, a perspective view with spatial separation of parts;

[0020] Fig. 2 shows the assembled electrical kit shown in Fig. 1, a perspective view from the front;

[0021] Fig. 3 shows the kit shown in Fig. 2, top view;

[0022] Fig. 4 shows a part of the switching device shown in Fig. 1, a bottom view with spatial separation of the parts;

[0023] Fig. 5 shows the assembled part shown in Fig. 4, side view;

[0024] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view along plane A-A of Fig. 5;

[0025] Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of the part E1 shown in Fig. 6;

[0026] Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of part E2 shown in Fig. 6;

[0027] Fig. 9 shows an enlarged view of part E3 shown in Fig. 20;

[0028] Fig. 10 shows two indicators of the switching device shown in Fig. 1, a perspective view;

[0029] Fig. 11 shows the indicators shown in Fig. 10, a top view;

[0030] Fig. 12 shows the control keys of the switching device shown in Fig. 1, a perspective view;

[0031] Fig. 13 shows the control key shown in Fig. 12, viewed from below;

[0032] Fig. 14 shows the control key shown in Fig. 12, rear view;

[0033] Fig. 15 shows the control key shown in Fig. 12, a side view;

[0034] Fig. 16 shows the switching device shown in Fig. 1, without its cover plate and without the control key, assembled view from the front;

[0035] Fig. 17 shows the switching device shown in Fig. 1, assembled view from the front;

[0036] Fig. 18 shows a sectional view along plane B-B of Fig. 17;

[0037] Fig. 19 shows a version of the implementation of the claimed switching device without its facing plate, a front view of the assembled device;

[0038] Fig. 20 shows a sectional view along plane C-C of Fig. 19.

[0039] In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" are defined relative to the user's view, wherein the front of the claimed element faces the user, while the rear of this element faces away from the user.

[0040] Figures 1-3 show a single-post electrical kit that includes a preferred embodiment of the claimed single-post switching device 1 and a finishing panel 50 installed on the switching device 1. Figures 19 and 20 show a slightly modified version of this preferred embodiment of the switching device 1.

[0041] According to this preferred embodiment, the switching device 1 comprises:

[0042] - box 10, which contains the mechanism of the device,

[0043] - bracket 20 of the device, which forms a single monoblock part with the said box 10,

[0044] - key 30 of the device mechanism control,

[0045] - a facing plate 40, installed in front of the said box 10 on its fixed part 18, and

[0046] - a lighting device containing two light sources 112 belonging to two different indicators 100, electrically connected to each other by means of an electric wire 101 and supplied with current through the said mechanism of the device.

[0047] The device box 10 and bracket 20 are formed into a single piece by molding a rigid thermoplastic polymer such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

[0048] As shown in particular in Fig. 1 and 3-5, in this case the box 10 comprises a bottom wall 19 and a side wall 11, delimiting an internal volume open at the front essentially in the form of a parallelepiped (see Fig. 1).

[0049] The wall 19 of the bottom contains openings 19A for passing the bare part of the electric power wires (not shown) coming from the electric network into the box 10 for the purpose of connecting them to the terminals BC of the connection mechanism of the device (see Figs. 4 and 6).

[0050] The bracket 20 of the device is made in the form of a plate, the outer edge 21 of which follows a square outline (see Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 16). This plate, located in front of the box 10, surrounds the said box 10 and is located in the form of a console above the side wall 11 of the box 10 and perpendicular to this wall (see Figs. 4 and 5).

[0051] The bracket 20 of the device comprises an opposite front side 20A and a rear side 20B. The rear side 20B extends in a plane, while the front side 20A is a slightly convex surface (see Figs. 5 and 20).

[0052] The side wall 11 of the box 10 extends backward from the rear side 20B of the bracket 20 of the device substantially perpendicular to this rear side 20B (see Figs. 4 and 5). The front opening of the box 10 is limited by the edge 22, from which the front side 20A of the bracket 20 of the device extends.

[0053] The bracket 20 of the device comprises a flat portion 23 (that is, a portion formed between two parallel planes) having four sections located at four cardinal points along the edge 22 of the front opening of the box 10 (see Figs. 1 and 16). The rear side 23B of this flat portion 23 belongs to the flat rear side 20B of said bracket 20 of the device (see Fig. 4), and the flat front side 23A of this flat portion 23 is located with a small indentation relative to the convex front side 20A of said bracket 20 of the device (see Figs. 1, 16, 17 and 19). The front side 23A of this flat portion 23 is limited by a rim 23C formed by a ledge of the front side 20A of the bracket 20 of the device (see Figs. 1 and 16).

[0054] As shown in Fig. 1, 16, 17 and 19, the bracket 20 of the device contains four through holes 25. These four holes 25 are located on two perpendicular axes X, Y, intersecting each other at the intersection point O, located in the center of the front opening of the box 10. They are pairwise opposite. The holes 25 pass through the flat part 23 of the bracket 20 of the device. They have the shape of a keyhole and serve for fastening the bracket 20 of the device with screws to the internal electrical box (not shown).

[0055] The bracket 20 of the device also contains slots 26 for snapping teeth (not visible in the figures) made on the rear side of the finishing panel 50.

[0056] The finishing panel 50 shown in Fig. 1-3 is, for example, a plate that can be installed on the bracket 20 of the device around the control key 30 of the switching device 1 to complete the finishing of the electrical kit. This finishing panel 50 is also not part of the present invention. It covers the front side 20A of the bracket 20 of the device, protruding beyond its outer edge 21, resting on the receiving wall (not shown). In this case, it has a square outer contour 52 and a central opening 51, the edge 51A of which is round.

[0057] As shown in more detail in Fig. 2, when the finishing panel 50 is installed on the said bracket 20 of the device, the facing cover 40 of the switching device 1 protrudes from the central opening 51 of the finishing panel 50, and an annular gap A is formed between the annular outer edge 41 of the facing cover 40 and the inner annular edge 51A of the finishing panel 50. In this annular gap A, a control key 30 of an annular shape is installed, wherein its inner edge 30C extends along the outer edge 41 of the facing cover 40, and its outer edge 30D extends along the inner edge 51A of the finishing panel 50. The front side 50A of this finishing panel 50 is located substantially in the same plane as the front side 40A of said facing cover 40.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 1, 16, 18 and 20, the mechanism of the device, located in the box 10, contains a driver 15, mounted with the possibility of rotation in the box 10 and containing a barrel 15D, which captures the rotating part of the movable brush B, resting on the fork C1 and seated in a spring (not shown), installed in the said barrel 15D. The driver 15 is configured to move the said movable brush B, equipped with a contact, between a closed position, in which the said contact rests on a fixed contact (not shown), and an open position, in which the said contact moves away from the said fixed contact.

[0059] The mechanism of the device also comprises, on the bottom of the box 10, electrical connection terminals BC (see Fig. 6), connected to the plug, as well as to the fixed contact. For example, in this case, four electrical connection terminals BC are provided for connecting the mechanism of the switching device. These electrical connection terminals BC are, for example, automatic connection terminals, and each of them can be controlled by a disconnection lever, which passes through an opening made in the side wall 11 of the box 10 and acts on the leaf spring of the corresponding terminal. Each disconnection lever comprises a control handle 17, accessible to the user from outside the said box 10 (see Figs. 1, 3, 18 and 20).

[0060] As shown in Fig. 1, 16 and 19, the leash 15 comprises an upper part made in the form of a cradle located between two fixed and parallel walls 18 of the box 10. These two walls 18 protrude above the front side 20A of the bracket 20 of the device (see Fig. 5) and contain, in the parts protruding above the said bracket 20 of the device, two supports 18A, the axes of which are aligned with the Y axis, called the rotary axis. Two journals installed in two longitudinal outer sides of the cradle enter these two supports 18A, so that the leash 15 can rotate around the rotary axis Y. Two opposite ends of the cradle of the leash 15 are designed with the possibility of fastening a control key 30 to them. For fastening the control key 30, each of these opposite ends of the cradle of the leash 15 contains a tooth 15B, framed by two ledges 15C, made in two longitudinal outer sides of the cradle, and two platforms 15A (see Fig. 1, 16, 19 and 20).

[0061] Preferably, the control key 30 is formed (see Fig. 18) by connecting two ring-shaped parts fastened together, each of which is formed by molding from a thermoplastic material of the ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) type.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 1 and 12-15, the control key 30 has the shape of a ring, the inner edge 30C of which limits a circular opening 30E. This ring 30 has a slightly concave front side 30A and, opposite to the front side 30A, a flat back side 30B. The front side 30A forms a support side for the user's finger. To install the control key 30 on the cradle of the leash 15, two parallel strips 31 are made on the back side 30B of the control key 30, which extend along two chords of the circular opening 30E. The distance between said strips 31 is equal to the length of the cradle of the leash 15, while said strips 31 are made with the ability to interact with devices provided for this at each end of said cradle. For interaction with the cradle of the leash 15, each bar 31 contains, in the center of the longitudinal side 31A facing the other bar 31, a tooth 31C, framed by two parallel posts 31E.Finally, on the inner edge 30C of the control key 30, two projections 32 are formed, which are directed towards each other along the diameter D of the circular opening 30E (see Fig. 14). Each projection 32 has a back side 32B in the form of a recessed corner, the apex 32C of which is an edge extending along the said diameter D. As shown, in particular, in Fig. 1 and 16, in the front opening of the box 19, two forks 16 are respectively provided, having the form of protruding corners, the apexes of which are located in a line along the rotary axis Y.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 18-20, the control key 30 is connected to the cradle of the leash 15 by engaging the teeth 31C of the strips 31 of the said key with the teeth 15B of the cradle of the leash 15. Simultaneously with this engagement, the posts 31E formed on the said strips 31 enter the ledges 15C provided in the two longitudinal outer sides of the cradle, and the rear sides 31B of the said strips 31 rest on the platforms 15A of the cradle of the leash 15. Thus, the control key 30 is locked on the said cradle of the leash 15 in three perpendicular spatial directions X, Y and Z (see Fig. 19).

[0064] Thus, pressing the finger on the control key 30 allows the leash 15 to rotate around the rotary axis Y, which moves the movable brush B.

[0065] As shown in particular in Fig. 17-20, when the control key 30 is installed on the cradle of the leash 15, it is located above the bracket 20 of the device, overlapping the annular part of the front side 23A of the flat part 23 of the said bracket 20 of the device. It is configured to rotate around the rotation axis Y between two different angular positions relative to the said flat part 23 located underneath it. Two different angular positions of the control key 30 correspond to two switching positions of the leash 15. In this case, the two angular positions of the control key 30 are stable positions. In an embodiment, only one stable position of the control key can be provided (for this, a return means can be provided in the box, which constantly pushes the control key to its stable angular position), in which case it functions as a push button.

[0066] Furthermore, the projections 32 of the control key 30 enter the forks 16 of the box 10, forming the proper rotary means of the said control key 30 around the rotary axis Y. This proper rotary means is independent of the rotary means 18A of the leash 15, with which the said control key 30 is connected, which ensures a good rotation of the said control key 30 around the rotary axis Y, whatever the area of ​​the front side 30A of the said control key 30 is, which is acted upon by pressing the user's finger to activate the said key.

[0067] As shown in particular in Fig. 1, 2, 17 and 18, the facing plate 40 is a front element that is fixedly installed in front of the box 10 of the switching device 1. It is made in the form of a disk, the diameter of which corresponds, if you do not take into account the gap, to the diameter of the circular opening 30E of the control key 30. On the rear side of the facing plate 40, four tabs 42 are made, equipped with snap-in teeth that are designed to snap onto four snap-in teeth 18B provided to protrude on opposite sides of the walls 18 of the box 10. As shown in Fig. 1 and 5, the snap-in teeth 18B are provided on both sides of the supports 18A on the parts of the walls 18 that protrude above the front side 20A of the bracket 20 of the device. After snapping onto the walls 18 of the box 10, the facing plate 40 is positioned inside the round opening 30E of the control key 30, closing this round opening above the cradle of the leash 15.After this, the outer edge 41 of the facing plate 40 runs along the inner edge 30C of the control key 30.

[0068] According to a distinctive feature, in the switching device 1 shown in various figures, the flat part 23 of the bracket 20 of the device contains two slots 24 located under the control key 30 oppositely on the positioning axis X, perpendicular to the said rotary axis Y (see Fig. 16), and under this flat part 23 opposite the said slots 24 there are two light sources 112 for emitting a light flux through the slots 24 to the outside of the said switching device 1, wherein the relative position of the slots 24 and the control key 30 is calculated in such a way that in each of the two angular positions of the control key 30 it closes one slot 24 and leaves the other slot 24 free (see Figs. 18 and 20).

[0069] Each slit 24 is associated with one light source 112.

[0070] The luminous flux emitted by one of the light sources 112 passes through the gap 24 left free by the control key 30 turned to one of its angular positions and exits to the outside of the switching device 1, passing through the annular gap A formed between the facing plate 40 and the finishing panel 50, while the exit of the luminous flux emitted by the other light source 112 is blocked by the control key 30, which covers the corresponding gap 24.

[0071] This preferred embodiment of the slots 24, the control key 30 and the light sources 112 allows for the alternate illumination of two specific areas of the device facade, showing the exact location of the control key 30 on which the user's finger must press in order to rotate the control key 30 to control the switching of the mechanism of the switching device 1. The alternately illuminated areas are located along two opposite parts of the inner annular edge 51A of the finishing panel 50, which are on the said positioning axis X and which pass next to the two parts of the control key 30, alternately overlapping the said slots 24.

[0072] As shown in particular in Fig. 16, both slots 24 extend on both sides of said positioning axis X along two circular arcs belonging to a circle C with a center at the intersection point O between said rotary axis Y and said positioning axis X. The slots 24 extend onto the front and rear sides 23A, 23B of the flat portion 23 of the bracket 20 of the device, located opposite the rear side 30B of the control key 30 (see Figs. 4 and 16).

[0073] As shown in Fig. 18, preferably two flat parts of the rear side 30B of the control key 30 are intended to alternately cover the outlets of the said slots 24 located on the front side 23A of the flat part 23 facing the control key 30.

[0074] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 20, the control key 30 comprises two different ribs 33 protruding from its rear side 30B, wherein each rib 33 is configured to enter the slot 24 covered by said control key 30. Each rib 33 has a shape and length corresponding to the shape and length of each slot 24. In this case, each rib 33 is located along an arc of a circle, like each slot 24.

[0075] Two light sources 112 belong to two identical indicators 100 installed on two opposite outer sides 11A of the side wall 11 of the box 10 opposite the said slots 24.

[0076] Fig. 1 and 3-11 show a preferred embodiment of two indicators 100 and means for mounting them on the side wall 11 of the box 10.

[0077] Each indicator 100 comprises an electronic board, a base 130 and a cover 140 (see Figs. 18 and 20).

[0078] The electronic board comprises a plate 110, on one side of which there is a printed electrical circuit and a light element 112 connected to said printed circuit.

[0079] Plate 110 is made of insulating material such as epoxy laminate.

[0080] For example, this printed circuit board is made of a thin layer of copper, chemically etched to form a series of tracks (not shown) terminating in contact pads. The printed circuit tracks can be coated with a layer of colored varnish, which protects the tracks from oxidation and potential short circuits. Light element 112 is connected to some contact pads of the printed circuit tracks. The electronic board also contains various electrical components, such as a diode and a resistor, connected to other contact pads of the printed circuit.

[0081] Lighting element 112 is, for example, an electroluminescent diode. Alternatively, any other electrical lighting component may be provided.

[0082] The base 130 and the cover 140 of each indicator 100 are connected to each other and form a housing in which the electronic board is hermetically enclosed. As shown in Fig. 6, 10 and 11, for connection, the base 130 has two brackets 132 on two opposite side sides, and the cover 140 has two tongues 141 on two opposite side sides, each of which is equipped with a tooth 142. Each tongue 141 of the cover 140 is inserted under the bracket 132 of the base 130 so that the tooth 142 of the tongue 141 is caught on the edge of the bracket 132. The interaction of the brackets 132 and the tongues 141 results in the base 130 and the cover 132 being pressed against each other along the edge of the hermetically sealed connection.

[0083] Base 130 is located at the rear of plate 110, and cover 140 covers the printed circuit board with light element 112 and other electronic components installed on the side of plate 110 of this electronic board. After the cover 140 and base 130 are connected, plate 110 is sandwiched between the inner side of cover 140 and the inner side 130B of base 130. Thus, it is firmly held between these two parts.

[0084] Base 130 and cover 140 are made of insulating plastic material, such as by molding. They provide electrical insulation for the electronic circuit board.

[0085] The base 130 is made of an opaque material, while the cover 140 is made of a transparent or translucent material, such as a thermoplastic material such as transparent polycarbonate.

[0086] The cover 140 protects the light element 112 and plays an important role as a light diffuser for the light flux emitted by the light element 112 of the indicator 100.

[0087] To achieve this, cover 140 is shaped like a cone 143, which is positioned opposite light element 112 and whose apex is directed toward said light element. This cone 143 directs the luminous flux emitted by light element 112 in the primary direction.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 10 and 11, the base 130 of each indicator 100 contains two openings 134 for passing two wires 101, 102 of electrical power, connected to the printed circuit board of the electronic board of said indicator 100. One of the wires 102 is intended for connection to one of the terminals BC of the electrical connection mechanism of the switching device 1, and the other wire 101 is connected to the electronic board of another indicator 100.

[0089] By means of wires 101, 102, both indicators 100 are continuously supplied with current through the mechanism of the switching device 1, which is connected to the electrical network. Thus, the luminous element 112 of each indicator 100 continuously emits a luminous flux outward from the switching device 1, and only the control key 30 blocks the output of this luminous flux depending on its angular position relative to the bracket 20 of the device, such that only one specific area of ​​the front part of the switching device 1 remains illuminated.

[0090] As shown in Fig. 6-11, the base 130 of each indicator 100 is provided with a means 133 for snapping onto a corresponding device 12B of the box 10 of the switching device 1. The base 130 of each indicator 100 also contains guide means 131A configured to interact with the corresponding guide means 12A provided on the box 10, wherein these guide means 131A are connected with the said snapping means 133 in order to guide the said indicator 100 into its snapping position on the box 10.

[0091] In particular, the base 130 of each indicator 100 has an outer side 130A (facing the other indicator 100), on which a protruding snap-on tooth 133 is formed. As shown in Fig. 9, this tooth 133 has, under its end 133B, an engaging surface 133A, which extends at a right angle relative to the outer side of the base 130. On the outer side 130A of the base 130, two protruding parallel rigid tabs 131 are also formed, located on both sides of the tooth 133. Each tab 131 has a bend at its free end directed toward the other tab 131, therefore, both tabs 131 form two grooves 131A facing each other (in other words, they are located opposite each other).

[0092] Accordingly, on each of the opposite outer sides 11A of the side side 11 of the box 10 of the switching device 1 there is a mounting platform 12 supported by posts 14. Each mounting platform 12 is formed from the rear side 20B of the bracket 20 of the device perpendicularly to this side. It is located directly under the flat part 23, in which one of the slots 24 is formed (see Fig. 4). Each mounting platform 12 has two parallel side edges 12A, which protrude beyond the said posts 14 (see Figs. 7 and 8). Both side edges form ribs 12A, which are located perpendicular to the rear side 23B of the said flat part 23 of the bracket 20 of the device. In addition, each mounting pad 12 has, on the outer side 12C, halfway between its two side edges 12A, a cutout 12B which extends to the edge of the connection with the rear side 23B of the flat part 23 of the bracket 20 of the device (see Fig. 4).

[0093] As shown in Fig. 4 and 5, both indicators 100 are brought closer to the box 10 of the switching device 1 with the outer side 130A of their base 130 facing the mounting pads 12 of said box 10. The grooves 131A of the base 130 of each indicator 100 are seated on the ribs 12A of the corresponding mounting pad 12 of the box 10 (see Fig. 6, 7 and 8), guiding the indicator 100 until the engaging surface 133A of the tooth 133 made behind the base 130 does not engage with the edge of the cutout 12B of said mounting pad 12 (see Fig. 6 and 9). In the engaged or snapped position, the outer side 130A of the base 130 of each indicator 100 is pressed against the outer side 12C of the corresponding mounting platform 12, and the cone 143 of the cover 140 of each indicator 100 is located directly under the flat part 23, facing the corresponding slot 24 of this flat part 23 of the bracket 20 of the device (see Figs. 18 and 20).The wire 101, which establishes the electrical connection between the two indicators 100, is semi-rigid and is made in such a way as to follow the outer shape of the box 10 between the two indicators 100, fixed on the said box 10. Each other wire 102 passes freely along one side of the box 10 (see Fig. 5) and is ready for connection to the terminal BC of the electrical connection of the mechanism of the device through one of the openings 19A, provided in the wall 19 of the bottom of the box 10.

[0094] The fastening of each indicator 100 on the mounting platform 12 of the box 10 is non-detachable, taking into account the right-angle orientation of the engagement surface 133A of each snap tooth 133 made on the base 130 of the indicator 100.

[0095] Preferably, on the outer side of the cover 140 of each indicator 100, two arrows F are provided to indicate the direction of installation of said indicator 100 on the box 10 of the switching device 1.

[0096] Finally, it should be noted that the bottom of the guide grooves 131A, provided on the outer side 130A of the base 130 of each indicator 100, has a slight slope, so that the outer side 130A of said base 130 of said indicator 100 does not come into contact with the outer side 12C of the mounting platform 12 until the tooth 133 engages with the edge of the cutout 12B. This makes it possible to avoid any jamming during the installation of each indicator 100 on the mounting platform 12 of said box 10.

[0097] The invention is not limited to the detailed description, and various other changes can be made thereto.

[0098] According to a version not shown, the said flat portion may be provided to belong to the box housing the device mechanism, rather than to the device bracket. In this case, it would be part of the front wall of the box, extending along the front opening of said box and intended to at least partially cover the opening of the device bracket, in which said box, mechanically mounted on said device bracket, is positioned.

[0099] It is possible to provide that the control key does not have the shape of a ring surrounding the trim cover, but rather that it has a more classic shape with a supporting wall surrounded by a trim cover, which in turn is surrounded by a trim panel mounted on the bracket of the device.

[0100] It is also possible to provide a cover for each indicator by means of additional casting on its base.

[0101] Of course, various other changes can also be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A switching device (1) comprising a control key (30) configured to rotate around a rotary axis (Y) between two different angular positions relative to a flat portion (23) located under the control key (30), and a lighting device comprising two light sources (112), characterized in that said flat portion (23) comprises two slits (24) located oppositely on a positioning axis (X) perpendicular to said rotary axis (Y), under the control key (30), wherein under the flat portion (23) there are two light sources (112) for emitting a light flux through the slits (24) to the outside of said switching device (1), wherein the relative position of the slits (24) and the control key (30) is calculated so that in each of the two angular positions the control key (30) closes one slit (24) and leaves the other slit (24) free.

2. A switching device (1) according to claim 1, which comprises a device mechanism and in which two light sources (112) belong to two different indicators (100) electrically connected to each other by means of an electric wire (101), wherein each indicator (100) receives power from the current through the said device mechanism.

3. The switching device (1) according to claim 2, in which the mechanism of the device is located in a box (10) with two opposite outer side walls (11A) on which two indicators (100) are installed.

4. The switching device (1) according to claim 3, in which each indicator (100) comprises a base (130) equipped with a means (133) for latching onto the mating device (12B) of the box (10).

5. The switching device (1) according to claim 4, in which the base (130) of each indicator (100) comprises guide means (131A) configured to interact with the corresponding guide means (12A) located on the box (10), wherein these guide means (131A) are connected to the said latching means (133) in order to guide the said indicator (100) to its latching position on the box (10).

6. A switching device (1) according to one of paragraphs 1-5, in which said flat part (23) belongs to a bracket (20) of a device with which a box (10) containing a mechanism of the switching device (1) is connected, and this flat part (23) extends along the front opening of said box (10).

7. The switching device (1) according to claim 6, in which said bracket (20) of the device forms a single monoblock part with said box (10).

8. A switching device (1) according to one of paragraphs 1-5, in which said flat part belongs to a box in which the mechanism of the device is located, it is part of a front wall framing the edge of the front opening of said box and is designed to at least partially close the opening of the bracket of the device in which said box is located, mechanically mounted on said bracket of the device.

9. A switching device (1) according to one of paragraphs 1-5, in which the control key (30) has a flat rear side (30B), two parts of which are designed with the possibility of alternately closing the outlets of the said slots (24) located on the front side (23A) of the said flat part (23) facing the said control key (30).

10. The switching device (1) according to claim 9, in which the control key (30) comprises two different ribs (33) protruding from its rear side (30B), wherein each rib (33) is designed with the possibility of entering a slot (24) covered by the said control key (30).

11. A switching device (1) according to one of paragraphs 1-5, in which both slots (24) extend on both sides of said positioning axis (X) along two arcs of a circle belonging to a circle (C) with a center at the point (O) of intersection between said rotary axis (Y) and said positioning axis (X).

Images