Pushbutton Switch Rocker Pivot Mechanism Prevents Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pushbutton switches with short guide lengths tend to jam and exhibit altered actuation feel due to tilting, leading to high friction and actuating forces, which is undesirable for designs requiring a large longitudinal extension without increasing installation height.
Innovation Solution
A pushbutton switch design featuring a rocker supported by pivot bearings within the housing, which pivots to prevent tilting and maintain uniform switch haptics, utilizing guide ribs and grooves for linear displacement while ensuring the pushbutton is supported over its entire length, thereby preventing jamming and maintaining consistent actuation feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the length of linear guides is kept short to reduce installation height, then the installation height is reduced, but the pushbutton tends to tilt and jam resulting in high friction and actuating forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rocker as an intermediary element between the pushbutton and the housing. The rocker has a contact edge that extends along the longitudinal extension of the pushbutton, providing continuous support and preventing tilting. This mediator transfers the actuating force from the pushbutton to the electrical switching element while maintaining pushbutton stability throughout its entire length, resolving the contradiction between short guide length and pushbutton stability.
2Length of moving object
If wire clips are used to stabilize a long pushbutton, then the pushbutton is supported, but the low bending and torsional rigidity of wires results in tilting at higher actuating forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the wire clip mechanical support system with a rocker-based support system. The rocker, being a rigid component with a contact edge, provides superior bending and torsional rigidity compared to wire clips. This substitution eliminates the tilting problem that occurs with wire clips under higher actuating forces, while still allowing the pushbutton to be supported over its entire longitudinal extension.
3Reliability
If guide length is increased to prevent tilting, then pushbutton stability is improved, but the installation height becomes relatively large which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional approach by introducing a pivotable rocker mechanism that provides support in a different dimensional configuration. Instead of extending guide length vertically, the rocker provides longitudinal support through its contact edge that extends along the pushbutton's length, achieving stability without increasing installation height. This dimensional reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between stability and compact height.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively prevents tilting and jamming, ensuring a comfortable actuation feel and consistent haptics across different actuation sites, while maintaining a low installation height by supporting the pushbutton over its entire length through the rocker's pivot mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The rocker is supported on an inner surface of a longitudinally extending side wall of the housing by at least one pivot bearing to be pivotable relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
The laterally extending side walls of the pushbutton have guide ribs (or guide grooves) which cooperate respectively with guide grooves (or guide ribs) of laterally extending side walls of the housing to form respective linear guides
Data Source
AI summary
An electric pushbutton switch includes a pushbutton, a rocker, and a housing. The pushbutton has a substantially rectangular actuating surface. The pushbutton is received within the housing and is displaceable connected to the housing. The pushbutton displaces with respect to the housing by way of a pressure actuation onto the actuating surface, thus triggering an electrical switching element. The rocker is box-shaped and is arranged within the housing beneath the pushbutton body and is at least partially encompassed by the pushbutton. The rocker is mounted on an inner longitudinally extending wall of the housing by a pivot bearing. By actuating the actuating surface, the rocker pivots about the pivot bearing while supporting the pushbutton along the longitudinal extension of the pushbutton.