Retrofittable Switch Guard with Segmented Spring Pin
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch guards for vehicle control switches lack rigidity and durability, and are often pre-installed on multi-switch modules, making them undesirable for non-critical switches and difficult to retrofit for selective protection against accidental actuation.
Innovation Solution
A retrofittable switch guard with a rigid structure and depressible spring pins or blades that securely attach to the switch housing, providing protection against accidental actuation while allowing easy installation and customization on a per-switch basis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible plastic guard with snap-fit fingers is used to attach to the switch housing, then the guard can be easily snapped/secured to the switch housing, but the guard lacks the rigidity needed to adequately prevent accidental actuation and has poor durability
Solution Approach 1:
The guard is divided into two separate components: a rigid guard body and a separate mating feature (spring pin). The spring pin is inserted through an opening in the guard body and engages with a corresponding feature on the switch housing, providing both attachment functionality and structural reinforcement without requiring the entire guard to be flexible.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard combines a rigid material (such as rigid plastic or metal) for the guard body with a separate mating feature component (spring pin). This composite construction allows the guard body to maintain rigidity for protection while the spring pin provides the necessary flexibility and elasticity for easy attachment and detachment.
2Reliability
If switch guards are pre-installed on all switches in a multi-switch module, then all switches are protected against accidental actuation, but guards are also installed on non-critical switches where they are unnecessary and undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The guard and its mating feature are designed as separate, easily attachable components that can be selectively installed on individual switches within a multi-switch module. This allows customers to attach guards only to critical switches that require protection while leaving non-critical switches without guards, providing flexibility in configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring pin mating feature enables dynamic attachment and detachment of the guard. The spring pin can be inserted through an opening in the guard body and engaged with a corresponding feature on the switch housing, allowing the guard to be easily attached or removed from specific switches based on their criticality requirements.
3Strength
If a rigid guard structure is used to prevent accidental actuation, then protection against breaking or defeat is improved, but the guard becomes difficult to attach and retrofit to existing switches
Solution Approach 1:
The guard is segmented into a rigid guard body and a separate mating feature (spring pin). The spring pin is inserted through an opening in the rigid guard body and engages with a corresponding feature on the switch housing. This segmentation allows the guard body to remain rigid for protection while the spring pin provides easy attachment through its elastic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring pin acts as an intermediary element between the rigid guard body and the switch housing. It provides the necessary flexibility and elasticity for easy attachment and detachment, mediating between the rigidity of the guard body and the mounting requirements of the switch housing.
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 solution offers enhanced protection against accidental switch actuation with a rigid and durable design, allowing for selective addition of guards to specific switches in a module, improving safety and customer flexibility by enabling easy retrofitting and reducing unnecessary guard installation on non-critical switches.
Implementation Method 1
a spring pin retained in each of the one or more openings and being translatable therethrough to provide securing of the rigid wall structure about the rocker switch
Data Source
AI summary
A switch guard for preventing accidental actuation of a control switch is disclosed. The switch guard includes a rigid wall structure comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls arranged to accommodate positioning of the control switch therein, each of the pair of end walls including at least one opening formed therein. The switch guard also includes a mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure, with each mating feature being a separate component from the rigid wall structure and being configured to selectively translate through the at least one opening formed in the respective end wall between a first position and a second position to secure the switch guard about the control switch.