Push-Button Switch Assembly With Color-Guided State Indication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing push-button switch arrangements fail to clearly and flexibly indicate different switching states to operators while minimizing manufacturing effort.

Innovation Solution

A push-button switch arrangement featuring a solid-colored plastic key guide and adapter device, where the key guide's color differs from the actuating head and adapter device, allowing the key guide's visibility to change with the switch's state, and the adapter device compensates for different housing sizes, eliminating the need for additional coloring or film application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If colored bands or films are applied to indicate switching states, then visual indication of switching states is improved, but manufacturing complexity and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual indication of switching stateVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The key guide is manufactured as a single integrated component with different color sections built into its structure. The first section has a first color and the second section has a second color, allowing visual indication of switching states without requiring separate colored bands, films, or additional marking processes to be applied after manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the push-button switch is designed to fit specific housing sizes, then mounting precision is improved, but adaptability to different housings deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting precisionVSAvoidadaptability to different housings

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter device serves multiple functions: it provides a standardized mounting interface that can be attached to housing bodies of different sizes and configurations, while also providing the colored sections for visual indication. This single component enables the push-button switch to be universally mounted on various housing types without requiring housing-specific customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If additional coloring processes or film applications are used, then visual distinction of switching states is improved, but manufacturing effort and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual distinction of switching stateVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The visual indication function is merged into the key guide component itself during the molding process. The different color sections are integrated directly into the key guide's structure, eliminating the need for separate coloring processes, painting steps, or film application operations that would otherwise be required to indicate switching states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3912178B1Push-button arrangement with identification of a switching state

Publication Date: 2024.02.28 EATON IP GRP EMEA

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A push-button switch assembly (1) with identification of switching states comprises a push-button switch (100) having an actuating head (110) for actuating the push-button switch and having a button guide (120). Furthermore, the push-button switch assembly (1) comprises an adapter device (200) for attaching the push-button switch (100) to a housing body (300). The button guide (120) has an integrally-colored material consisting of a plastic, the color of which differs from a color of the actuating head (110) and a color of the adapter device (200).