AU2016392771B2

AU2016392771B2 - Push button operated switch with button alignment system

Info

Publication number: AU2016392771B2
Application number: AU2016392771A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tiziano Aletti; Giorgio LONGHI; Pietro Rocereto
Original assignee: BTicino SpA
Current assignee: BTicino SpA
Priority date: 2016-02-15
Filing date: 2016-12-21
Publication date: 2021-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-21
Also published as: CR20180440A; CN108604508B; EP3417466B1; MX2018009321A; CO2018008159A2; AU2016392771A1; HUE046286T2; RU2723643C2; RU2018126806A3; MX374358B; PL3417466T3; PT3417466T; EP3417466A1; MA44213A; MA44213B1; ES2758499T3; CL2018002059A1; WO2017141092A1; ITUB20160765A1; BR112018015573A2

Abstract

• 1. A push button operated switch (10) including: • - a case (20) made of electrically insulating material, having a bottom wall (21), lateral walls (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) being joined to the bottom wall (21) and an open side (21') opposite to the bottom wall (21); • - a push button (30) that can be operated to command an electrical commutation of the switch (10) and having a body provided with lateral walls (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) crossing said open side (21'), the push button (10) being adapted to slide with respect to the case (20) along a sliding axis (Z-Z), between a forward position and a backward position; • - at least one elastic element (40) adapted to exert a pushing force on the push button (30) in order to bring back or keep the push button (30) in the backward position; • - a first stopping system including contact surfaces (251, 351) of the lateral walls of the case (20) and of the lateral walls of the push button (30) respectively, which are abutting to each other when the push button (30) is in the backward position; • characterized in that the first stopping system includes a button alignment system including alignment elements (250, 350) engaging with each other starting from a giving point on during the sliding movement of the push button (30) from the forward position towards the bakward position.

Description

TITLE

"Push button operated switch with button alignment system"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present description refers to the technical

field of the electrical installations and, more

particularly, it concerns a push button operated switch

with push button alignment system.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002]European patent EP1584096 discloses a push button

operated switch including a supporting structure made of

insulating material, or case, having the shape of a box

and defining an inner compartment for housing and for

supporting the electromechanical components being part of

the switch. The case has an open side. The switch also

includes a button slidingly coupled to the case by means

of guide elements in order to close the open side. The

mechanical coupling between the push button and the case

allows a relative and guided sliding of the push button

with respect to the case along a sliding axis. Such sliding

is necessary to command, by means of the push button, an

electrical commutation of the switch. A pressure of the

push button determines an advancement of the push button

with respect to the case. A release of the push button

determines a distancing movement of the push button with

respect to the case. The push button therefore moves between a forward position and a backward position, that represent two end of stroke positions of the push button.

[0003]The European patent EP1866944, the European patent

EP2297759 and the European patent application EP2553700

disclose other embodiments of push button switches.

[0004]The push button switches of the prior art may be

affected by a drawback due to the fact that, after pushing

the push button, it does not always return back in a

position aligned with respect to a reference plane that is

perpendicular to the sliding axis. Such misalignment is

often visually perceived, for example, it compromises the

aesthetics and the visual elegance of a wall light point.

In case the switch is modular and placed beside other

switches of the same type, the misalignment among the

various push buttons may increase the effect of aesthetic

decline of the electrical installation. Furthermore, if a

push button is pushed from an initial non-aligned position

with respect to a reference plane, other problems may occur

such as a greater wearing of the friction surfaces, or the

push button jamming in the most serious cases, or a sense

of lack of fluidity may be felt when operating the switch.

[0005] It is therefore recognised the need for implementing

a push button operated switch being able to solve or

minimize the aforesaid drawbacks caused by the

misalignment of the push button.

[0006]The object of the present description is to make

available a push button operated switch being able to

fulfil the above described need with reference to the prior

art switches.

[0007]Such object is achieved through a push button

operated switch as generally defined in claim 1. Preferred

and advantageous embodiments of the aforesaid push button

operated switch are defined in the enclosed dependent

claims.

[0008]The invention shall be better understood from the

hereinafter detailed description of particular embodiments

merely by way of example but not limited to, with reference

to the enclosed drawings briefly described in the following

paragraph.

BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS.

[0009]Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment

of a push button operated switch including a case, a push

button slidingly fastened to the case and a key coupled to

the push button.

[0010] Figure 2 shows a side view of the push button

operated switch of Figure 1.

[0011]Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of the

switch of Figure 1 from which the key has been removed.

[0012]Figure 4 shows a view from above of the switch case of Figure 1 from which all the components contained inside the case have been removed.

[0013]Figure 5 shows a view from above of the push button

of the switch of Figure 1.

[0014]Figure 6 shows a perspective view from below of the

push button of the switch of Figure 1.

[0015]Figure 7 shows a partial cross-section perspective

view of the switch of Figure 1, from which the key and

some of the components contained inside the case have been

removed.

[0016]Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the case of the

switch of Figure 1, wherein some of the components

contained inside the case are visible.

[0017]Figure 9 shows a partial cross-section perspective

view of an enlarged part of the switch of Figure 1.

[0018] Figure 10 shows a further partial cross-section

perspective view of an enlarged part of the switch of

Figure 1.

[0019] ]Figure 11 shows a side view of the switch of Figure

1 from which the key has been removed.

[0020]Figure 12 shows a partial cross-section perspective

view of the case of the switch of Figure 1, wherein a

supporting fulcrum inserted in the case is visible.

[0021]Figure 13 shows a partial cross-section side view

of the case and of the supporting fulcrum of Figure 12.

[0022] Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the supporting

fulcrum of Figures 12 and 13.

[0023]Figure 15 shows a pressure transmitting member of

the push button of the switch of Figure 1.

[0024] Figure 16 shows a further perspective view from

above of the push button of the switch of Figure 1.

[0025] Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the supporting

fulcrum, of the mobile contact holder support and of the

fixed contact holder support.

[0026]Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the assembly

of Figure 17 wherein it is also shown an elastic element,

operatively coupled to the mobile contact holder support.

[0027]Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the assembly

of Figure 17 wherein a rocking control member is also

shown.

[0028]Figure 20 shows a further perspective view of the

assembly of Figure 19.

[0029]Figure 21 shows a perspective view of the rocking

control member of Figure 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030]With reference to the enclosed figures, it will be now described a particular non-limiting embodiment of a push button operated switch 10. By push button operated switch it is meant a switch that can be operated manually through a push button in order to determine one, or at least one, electrical switching. Preferably, as in the example shown, the push button operated switch 10 is of modular type, that is destined to be mounted on a supporting frame for the wall installation beside other modular switches of the same type or in general other electrical modular appliances, as for example sockets. The switch 10 can be operated manually and can be used for example for controlling the electric power and/or the lighting in a residential or commercial building.

[0031]In the present description, by the term switch it

is meant both a device for opening and closing a single

electrical contact and a device for opening an electrical

contact with the contemporary closing of another

electrical contact and vice versa (diverter).

[0032]The push button operated switch 10 includes a

supporting structure 20 made of electrically insulating

material, e.g. plastic, preferably having, but not

restrictively, approximatively the parallelepiped shape.

The supporting structure 20, hereinafter called case 20,

includes a bottom wall 21 and four lateral walls 20a, 20b,

20c, 20d joined to the bottom wall 21. The case 20 includes an open side 21' opposite to the bottom wall 21. The lateral walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and the bottom wall 21 define an inner compartment adapted for housing the electromechanical components of the switch 10 and at least two electrical connection terminals Cl, C2, C3. In the example shown in the Figures the inner compartment of the case 20 houses, without any limitation, three electrical connecting terminals Cl, C2, C3.

[0033]Preferably, the bottom wall 21 is integrated in the

case 20, however in one alternative embodiment the bottom

wall 21 may be a piece separated from the lateral walls

20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the case 20 and coupled to them.

[0034]The push button operated switch 10 includes a push

button 30, being operated manually to command an electrical

commutation of the switch 10, having a body provided with

lateral walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d crossing the open side

21' of the case 20. The push button 10 is adapted to slide

with respect to the case 20 along a sliding axis Z-Z and

along a stroke limited between a forward position and a

backward position. For the purposes of the present

description, by "forward position" it is meant an end-of

stoke position in the approaching movement of the push

button 30 to the case 20, while by "backward position" it

is meant an end-of-stroke position in the distancing

movement of the push button 30 from the case 20. It is therefore clear that the terms "forward" and "backward" refer to the position of the push button 30 with respect to the case 20.

[0035]The push button operated switch 10 includes a guide

system adapted to guide the sliding of the push button 30

with respect to the case 20 along the sliding axis Z-Z.

[0036] Preferably, the guide system is a system of

spatially distributed guides including first guide

elements 22, 32 operatively interposed between the lateral

walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the case 20 and the lateral

walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the body of the push button

30.

[0037]Preferably, the system of spatially distributed

guides also includes second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34

spaced apart with respect to the first guide elements 22,

32 and placed, with respect to the first guide elements

22, 32, at a lower distance from the bottom wall 21 of the

case 20. Most precisely, friction surfaces cooperating

between them of the first guide elements 22, 32, have a

distance from the bottom wall 21 of the case 20 higher

than the distance with respect to the bottom wall 21 of

the case 20 of friction surfaces cooperating between them

of the second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34.

[0038]According to one advantageous embodiment, the first

guide elements 22, 32 include a first plurality of appendices 22 protruding from the lateral walls 20a, 20b,

20c, 20d of the case 20 towards the lateral walls 30a,

30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30 and a second plurality

of appendices 32 protruding from the lateral walls of the

push button 30 towards the lateral walls 20a, 20b, 20c,

20d of the case 20 and each being adapted to contact a

respective appendix 22 of the first plurality of appendices

22 in order to slide thereon when the push button 30 slides

with respect to the case 20.

[0039]In the non-limiting exemplary embodiment shown in

the Figures, four appendices 22 protruding from the lateral

walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the case 20 are provided as

well as four corresponding appendices 32 protruding from

the lateral walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button

30.

[0040]According to one advantageous embodiment, the first

plurality of appendices 22 and the second plurality of

appendices 32 allow the lateral walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d

of the push button 30 to be spaced from the lateral walls

20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the case 20 when the push button 30

slides with respect to the case 20. Thereby, in fact, the

push button operated switch 10 is less vulnerable to an

undesired dust or sand intrusion within the lateral walls

20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the case 20 and lateral walls 30a,

30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30 that would otherwise cause a jamming inside a switch wherein, due to a wide overlapping between the lateral walls of the push button and those of the case 20, there are wider friction surfaces.

[0041] According to one preferred embodiment, the

aforesaid protruding appendices 22, 32 are linear

appendices, which in the shown example extend linearly

along axis that are parallel between them and parallel to

the sliding axis Z-Z.

[0042]According to one preferred embodiment, the lateral

walls of button 30 are parallel in twos and define edges

32', each of them being defined by a pair of adjacent

lateral walls 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d of the push button 30.

Each appendix 32 of the second plurality of appendices is

arranged on a corresponding edge 32'. Preferably, the edges

32' are bevelled.

[0043]According to one advantageous embodiment, the second

guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 are staggered with respect

to the first guide elements 22, 32. In other words, the

second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 are closer to some of

the first guide elements 22, 32 and further from other

first guide elements 22, 32.

[0044]Preferably, with reference to Figures 4, 6 and 7 the

second guide elements 23, 24, 33, 34 include a guide seat

23 and a guide pin 33 having an end portion 34 slidable in the guide seat 23. In the non-limiting exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures, the guide pin 33 extends from the body of the push button 30 towards the bottom wall 21 of the case 20 while the guide seat 23 is fixed to the bottom wall 21 of the case 20. Preferably, the guide pin 33 is integrated in the push button 30 and protrudes from the body of the push button 30 towards the bottom wall 21 of the case 20. Preferably, the body of the push button 30 and the guide pin 33 form a single piece.

[0045]According to one advantageous embodiment, the

aforesaid end portion 34 of the guide pin 33 has a cross

shaped cross-section. By cross-shaped cross-section, it is

intended a section on a plane that is perpendicular to the

sliding axis Z-Z. In the particular embodiment shown in

the Figures, the aforesaid cross-shaped cross-section

includes a circular central part from which four arms

originate forming a Greek cross.

[0046]According to one advantageous embodiment, the guide

pin 33 does not interfere with the lateral walls 20a, 20b,

20c, 20d of the case 20 during the sliding movements of

the push button 30 with respect to the case 20. In other

words, the guide pin 33 is spaced apart from the lateral

walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the case 20 so as to avoid

having friction surfaces among the lateral walls of the

case 20 and the guide pin 33 itself.

[0047]With reference to Figures 4 and 7, according to one

embodiment the guide seat 23 includes four lateral walls

24 parallel in twos. Preferably, the lateral walls 24 of

the guide seat 23 are separated from one another and joined

to the bottom wall 21 of the case 20. In one alternative

embodiment the guide seat 33 may be a continuous collar,

having a quadrangular or circular section. In the

particular example shown the lateral walls 24 are

integrated in the bottom walls 21 of the case 20,

protruding from it towards the push button 30.

[0048] With reference to Figure 8 the push button operated

switch 10 includes at least one elastic element 40 adapted

to exert a pushing force on the push button 30 in order to

bring back or keep the push button 30 in the backward

position in absence of external forces. In the particular

embodiment shown in Figure 8 the switch 10 includes two

elastic elements 40 having the form of two helicoidal

springs 40. In particular, in the shown example, the switch

10 also includes a diaphragm 41 housed inside the case 20

and the elastic elements 40 are operatively inserted

between the diaphragm 41 and the body of the push button

30, each having for example an end portion inserted in a

correspondent recessed seat 39 provided in the body of the

push button 30 (Figure 6). Also in the diaphragm 41

recessed seats having the same function may be provided.

[0049]With reference to Figures 8-10, in order to stop the

push button 30 in the backward position, the push button

operated switch 10 includes a first stopping system

including contact surfaces 251, 351 of the lateral walls

of the case 20 and of the lateral walls of the push button

30 respectively, which are abutting to each other when the

push button 30 is in the backward position. In a

particularly advantageous embodiment, the first stopping

system includes a button alignment system of the push

button 30 including alignment elements 250, 350 engaging

with each other starting from a given point on during the

sliding movement of the push button 30 from the forward

position towards the backward position, before reaching

the backward position. Such alignment elements 250, 350

allow to progressively align the push button 30 with

respect to a reference plane RP (Figure 11) that is

perpendicular to the sliding axis Z-Z.

[0050]According to one advantageous embodiment, the

aforesaid alignment elements 250, 350 include at least a

variable cross-section guide 250, and a corresponding

variable cross-section slider 350 adapted to be inserted

inside the variable cross-section guide 250, starting from

a given point on during the motion of the push button 30

before reaching the backward position and up until reaching

it. Preferably the variable cross-section guide 250 is a tapered guide, having a decreasing cross-section in the direction towards the reference plane (RP). In this case, for example, the variable cross-section slider 350 is wedge-shaped.

[0051]According to one advantageous embodiment, in order

to further increase the precision of the alignment of the

push button 30 with respect to the reference plane RP and

to guarantee a better coupling between the push button 30

and the case 20 the contact surfaces 251, 351 are surfaces

that, in the backward position of the push button 30, lie

on a plane IP inclined with respect to the reference plane

RP.

[0052]According to one particularly advantageous

embodiment, the switch 10 includes complementary snap-fit

elements 25, 35 provided on the lateral walls of the case

20 and on the lateral walls of the body of the push button

30. The aforesaid snap-fit elements 25 are shaped in order

to facilitate a forced insertion of the body of the push

button 30 through the open side 21' of the case 20 in the

assembling phase of the push button-case assembly and,

once they pass a snapping position, to make interlocking

snap-fit coupling between the push button 30 and the case

20, based on which the push button 30 is slidingly

constrained to the case 20.

[0053]In the particular example represented in the

Figures, without limitation, the said snap-fit elements

25, 35 include four snap-fit teeth 25 on the lateral walls

of the case 20 and four complementary snap-fit teeth 35

arranged on the lateral walls of the body of the push

button 30. Preferably the snap-fit teeth 25, 35 are

arranged at the corners of a rectangle or square lying on

a plane that is perpendicular to the sliding axis Z-Z.

[0054]According to one particularly advantageous

embodiment, the above described snap-fit elements 25, 35

carry the above described alignment elements 250, 350 and

preferably the above described contact surfaces 251, 351

too.

[0055]According to one preferred embodiment, in order to

stop the push button 20 in the forward position, the push

button operated switch 10 includes a second stopping system

including contact elements 26, 36 respectively provided on

the lateral walls of the case 20 and on the lateral walls

of the body of the push button 30. In the particular

example shown, the aforesaid contact elements 26, 36

include two small blocks 36 protruding from opposite walls

30b, 30d of the body of the push button 30 and stopping

seats 26 provided on two lateral walls 20b, 20d opposite

one another of the case 20.

[0056]According to one embodiment, the push button

operated switch 10 includes a supporting fulcrum 50 housed inside the case 20. As known, in a switch a supporting fulcrum 50 serves as a supporting means for a mobile electrically conductive switching member, being in particular rotatable, carrying at least a mobile electrical contact element. The aforesaid mobile electrically conductive switching member will be called in the present description rotatable contact holder support.

The supporting fulcrum 50 is for example made of folded

and punched metal foil.

[0057]According to one advantageous embodiment, in order

to guarantee a stable fixing of the supporting fulcrum 50

to the case 20, the case 20 includes a housing seat 27 of

the supporting fulcrum 50 and the push button operated

switch 10 includes a snap-fit coupling system adapted to

fix the supporting fulcrum 50 to the case 20 in the housing

seat 27. Preferably, the housing seat 27 is arranged inside

the case 20 on the bottom wall 21 and the snap-fit coupling

system includes at least a coupling elastic tooth 28

adapted to hook the supporting fulcrum 50 to the bottom

wall 21 of the case 20. Preferably, the aforesaid coupling

elastic tooth 28 is integrated in the bottom wall 21 of

the case 20 and forms a single piece with the latter. In

the example shown in the Figures, the snap-fit coupling

system includes a plurality of coupling elastic teeth 28,

in particular three coupling elastic teeth 28.

[0058]According to one advantageous embodiment that allows

to simplify the manufacturing of the case 20, beneath the

coupling elastic tooth 28, the bottom wall 21 of the case

has a pass-through opening 28'. In such a way, it is

usefully avoided having to mould in the bottom wall 21 of

the case 20 undercut opposite surfaces.

[0059]According to one preferred embodiment, the coupling

elastic tooth 28 has a free end portion and an opposite

end constrained to the bottom wall 21 of the case 20 and

the free end portion is such that it engages with a

peripheral portion of the supporting fulcrum 50.

[0060]According to one advantageous embodiment, the snap

fit coupling system includes at least two snap-fit coupling

teeth 28 arranged at opposite sides with respect to the

supporting fulcrum 50.

[0061]According to one embodiment, the housing seat 27 of

the supporting fulcrum 50 is a recessed seat realised in

the bottom wall 21 of the case 20. Preferably, the fulcrum

50 includes a support and contact portion 51 that is shaped

so as to form a groove, for example having a V-shaped cross

section, housed inside the housing seat 27. Preferably the

support fulcrum 50 also includes a connecting portion 53,

being part of a connecting terminal Cl of the switch 10.

The connecting terminal Cl includes a screw 54 and a

clamping plate 55, and the screw 54 crosses the connecting portion 53 of the supporting fulcrum 50 to engage with the clamping plate 55. According to one advantageous embodiment, between the support and contact portion 51 and the connecting portion 53, the supporting fulcrum 50 includes an intermediate portion 52 forming a connecting inclined plane between the support and contact portion 51 and the connecting portion 53.

[0062]According to one particularly advantageous

embodiment, the switch 10 also includes an anchoring system

59, 29 of the supporting fulcrum 50 to the case 20, in

particular to the bottom wall 21 of the case 20. For

example the anchoring system 59, 29 includes a folded

little wing 59 integrated in the supporting fulcrum 50 and

an anchoring seat 29 (visible in Figure 4) arranged inside

the bottom wall 21 of the case 20 housing the folded little

wing 59. This allows to stabilise the supporting fulcrum

position also with respect to the external stresses

that affect for example the supporting fulcrum 50 during

the wiring operations of the switch 10, for example caused

by the clamping of the connecting terminal Cl.

[0063]Apart from the specific example shown in the

drawings, more general or more specific embodiments have

been so far described wherein the switch 10 is a generic

push button operated switch.

[0064]Hereinafter some embodiments will be described wherein the switch 10 is a push button operated switch with a rocking mechanism. An example of a push button operated switch with rocking mechanism is for example disclosed in the European patent EP1866944. Apart from the peculiar embodiment described in such patent, it must be noted that by push button operated switch with rocking mechanism it is to be intended in general a switch operated by a sliding push button including a rocking element that controls the switching, hereinafter called, for ease of explanation, rocking control member.

[0065]With reference to Figures 3, 5, 6, according to one

advantageous embodiment the push button 30 includes a

pressure transmitting member 60 rotatably constrained to

the body of the push button 30. The pressure transmitting

member 60 is adapted to rotate into two opposed directions

starting from a rest position (or central position) and

the push button 30 includes at least an elastic element 61

adapted to bring the pressure transmitting member 60 back

to the angular rest position after a rotation of the same.

Referring to Figures 6 and 15 it must be noted that the

pressure transmitting member 60 is adapted to rotate around

the rotation axis Al-Al (that will be called third rotation

axis).

[0066]According to one advantageous embodiment, allowing

a user to manually operate the push button 10 perceiving a very limited resistance, the aforesaid elastic element is, or includes, a wire spring 61 and preferably a rectilinear wire spring. The aforesaid spring 61 is, for example, wire spring made of spring steel. It has been observed that a wire spring 61 with reduced section, for example with a diameter included between 0,25 mm and 0,75 mm and for example equal to 0,5 mm, is able to bring the pressure transmitting member 60 back to the angular rest position and is able to resist to the stresses generated when the push button 30 is manually operated.

[0067]Preferably, the aforesaid wire spring 61 has two

opposite end portions 62 constrained to the push button 30

and a central portion 63 adapted to exert an elastic

strength on the pressure transmitting member 60.

Preferably, referring to Figure 15, the pressure

transmitting member 60 includes a central portion 600 and

two appendices 601 and 602 originating from the central

portion 600. Preferably, the central portion 600 includes

a channel 630, as for example a recess or hole, crossed by

the central portion 63 of the wire spring 61.

[0068]Referring to Figure 16, according to one

advantageous embodiment, the body of the push button 30

includes a pass-through opening 360, crossed by the

pressure transmitting member 60, thereby the wire spring

61 is arranged on one side of the pass-through opening 360 together with at least one part of the central portion 600 of the pressure transmitting member 60, while the remaining part of the pressure transmitting member 60 is arranged on the other side of said pass-through opening 360.

[0069]With reference to Figure 15, according to a further

advantageous embodiment, the pressure transmitting member

includes two opposite hinge pins 610 that originate

from the central portion 600 of the aforesaid member. For

example, the two hinge pins 610 are cylindrical pins. Such

hinge pins 610 are oriented along the rotation axis Al-Al

of the pressure transmitting member 60. According to an

advantageous embodiment, in order to simplify the assembly

of the push button 30, the latter includes two semicircular

recesses (visible in Figure 6), or generally having the

shape of an arc of circumference, aligned along the

rotation axis of the pressure transmitting member 60, each

of which is adapted to partially receive a respective hinge

pin 610. In this case, the wire spring 61, apart from

serving as elastic call-back making the pressure

transmitting member 60 return into its rest position, also

serves favourably as fixing element of the member 60 to

the push button 30.

[0070]According to one advantageous embodiment, referring

to Figure 16, the push button 30 includes a fixing seat

361 of the wire spring 61 realized in the thickness of the bottom wall 31 of the push button 30 and that in the embodiment is placed on top of the pass-through opening

360 of the push button 30. Preferably, such fixing seat

361 includes two grooves 362 aligned to each other along

the direction of prevalent longitudinal extension of the

wire spring 61 and are crossed by the end portions 62 of

the wire spring 61. Preferably, the end portions 62 of the

wire spring 61 protrude beyond such grooves 362 from

opposite sides with respect to the central portion 63 of

the wire spring 61. Conveniently, the fixing seat 361 of

the wire spring 61 includes stopping elements 365 adapted

to limit or prevent an undesired translation of the wire

spring 31 with respect to the push button 30. Such

translation may in fact determine and undesired detachment

of the wire spring 61 from the push button 30 and, thus,

in the embodiment too of the pressure transmitting member

60.

[0071]With reference to Figure 7, the aforesaid pressure

transmitting member 60 is such that it contacts, from a

certain point on during the sliding of the push button 30

from the backward position to the forward position, a

switching rocking control member 70, e.g. a bistable

member, included in the push button operated switch 10 in

case said switch 10 is a push button switch with rocking

operating mechanism. After such contact, the pressure transmitting member 60 starts rotating with respect to the rest position, and during a further advancement of the push button 30, it determines a rotation of the rocking control member 70 starting from a first operative position until it reaches a second operative position. At this point, if the pressure of the push button 30 is released, it will be able to return back to the backward position and the pressure transmitting member 60 can return back to the rest position as a result of the wire spring 61, whilst the rocking control member 70 will be able to remain in the second operative position, if it is a stable position, or, in the opposite case, return back to the first operative position (e.g. as a result of a call-back strength performed by an elastic element). In case the control rocking member 70 returns in the first operative position, a further pressure of the push button 30 will determine a sequence of movements as the above described one. In case, on the contrary, the control rocking member

70 remains in the second operative position, at the moment

of a further pressure of the push button 30 through a

sequence of movements similar to the above described one,

it will be able to return in the first operative position

and remain there when the push button 30 is released and

until a later pressure of the push button 30.

[0072]With reference to Figures 17-21, the push button operated switch 10 includes at least a fixed electrical contact element 92, 92' (hereinafter also called fixed contact element) and at least a mobile element of mobile contact 82, 82' (hereinafter also called mobile contact element) and the rocking control member 70, by moving as a result of the pressure transmitted by the pressure transmitting member 60, determines a rotation of the rotatable contact holder support 81 around a rotation axis

A3-A3 (hereinafter also called a first rotation axis) that

in its turn, rotates the mobile electrical contact element

82 between a first and a second operative position, being

angularly spaced from one another. In the non-limitative

embodiment shown in Figures 17-21, the switch 10 includes

two opposite mobile electrical elements 82, 82' and two

fixed electrical contact elements 92, 92', being spaced

apart and each other fronted. In this case the switch 10

is thus a two-way diverter, whereby in one of the aforesaid

operative positions the mobile contact element 82 is in

contact with a fixed contact element 92 and the mobile

contact element 82' is spaced apert from the other fixed

contact element 92' while in the other operative position

the mobile contact element 82 is spaced apart from the

fixed contact element 92 and the mobile contact element

82' is in contact with the other fixed contact element

92'. However, it is to be noted that the teachings of the

present description can be easily applied from an expert in the field even to the case of a push button operated switch 10 having a single fixed electrical contact element and a single mobile electrical contact element. Thus, it is possible to generalise by stating that the mobile electrical contact element 82, 82' rotates around a rotation axis A3-A3 among two operative positions angularly spaced in order to break or deviate an electrical circuit. From now on, reference will be made, without limitation, to the case wherein the switch 10 includes two mobile electrical contact elements 82, 82' and two fixed electrical contact elements 92, 92'. In such a case the switch 10 includes two fixed contact holder supports 91,

91' to which the fixed contact elements 92, 2' are

respectively fixed, e.g. welded. The fixed contact holder

supports 91, 91' are made of electrically conductive

material, e.g. copper, and each one includes a connecting

portion 93, 93'. Each connecting portion 93,93' is for

example part of a corresponding electrical connecting

terminal C2, C3 of the switch 10. Each connecting terminal

C2, C3 includes a screw 94, 94' and a clamping plate 95,

95' and each screw 94, 94' is such that is crosses the

respective connecting portion 93, 93' for engaging with an

associated clamping plate 95, 95'.

[0073]The mobile electric contact elements 82, 82' are for

example two opposite electrically conductive pads, e.g.

made of sintered silver, fixed, e.g. welded, at the

opposite sides of an end portion of a mobile contact

element 81, also made of electrically conductive material,

e.g. copper. It is thus clear that in this embodiment the

mobile electrical contact elements 82, 82' are

electrically connected between them. The opposite end

portion of the mobile contact holder support 81 lies on

the supporting fulcrum 50 and in particular on the support

and contact portion 51 of the supporting fulcrum 50. The

mobile contact holder support 81 rotates around a first

rotation axis A3-A3, in the example defined by the

supporting fulcrum 50, so as to rotate the mobile

electrical contact element 82, 82' between the first and

the second operative portion and vice versa. For example,

the mobile contact holder support 81 is an L-shaped plate

having a larger base 810 lying on the supporting fulcrum

and a more narrow arm 811 than the base 810 that

protrudes from the base 810 and on whose end portion,

opposite with respect to the base 810, the mobile

electrical contact elements 82, 82' are fixed.

[0074]The rocking control member 70 includes a body 75,

preferably made of electrically insulating material, e.g.

plastic, rotatable with respect to the case 20 in order to

rotate around a rotation axis A2-A2 (herein called second

rotation axis too), parallel to a first rotation axis A3

A3, so as to rotate the rotatable contact holder support

81. Preferably, the second rotation axis A2-A2 is parallel

both to the third rotation axis Al-Al and to the first

rotation axis A3-A3. Preferably, the body 75 of the rocking

control member 70 is rotatably hinged to the case 20.

[0075]According to one advantageous embodiment, in order

to further reduce the axial encumbrance of the push button

operated switch 10, the body 75 of the rocking control

member 70 is shaped in such a way that the rotatable

contact holder support 81 in the rotation around the first

rotation axis A3-A3 can cross the second rotation axis A2

A2, that is the rotation axis of the body 75 of the rocking

control member 70.

[0076]Preferably, the body 75 of the rocking control

member 70 includes a contact portion 72 having two shaped

surfaces 701, 702 intended to be alternatively contacted

and pushed by the pressure transmitting member 60, and in

particular by the two appendices 601, 602. Preferably the

two shaped surfaces 701, 702 are two stepped surfaces.

[0077]According to one embodiment, the body 75 of the

rocking control member 70 includes a bridge portion 71

bypassing an operative space 710 in which the rotatable

contact holder support 81, or an end portion thereof, as

for example an end portion of the arm 811 is free to

rotate. For example, the bridge portion 71 includes at least one bended bridge arm 711, 712, 713, preferably two coplanar bended bridge arms 711, 713 originating from two different points of the body 75 and joining in the same point. In the particular embodiment shown, the bridge portion 71 includes three bended bridge arms 711, 712, 713 originating from three different points of the body 75 and joining in the same point to form a cage structure that defines the operative area 710 within which the rotatable contact holder support 81, or an end portion thereof, as for example an end portion of the arm 811, is free to rotate. According to one possible embodiment, the bridge portion 71 may include a continuous bridge wall provided with a recess or a pocket within which the rotatable contact holder support 81, or an end portion thereof, is free to rotate.

[0078]According to one advantageous embodiment, as in the

example shown in the Figures, the bridge portion 71

bypasses also a space occupied by the fixed contact holder

support 91, 91', by the fixed electrical contact element

92, 92' and by the mobile electrical contact element 82,

82'. In this way the bridge portion 71 bypasses a space

region of the switch 10 in which the joining and separation

between the mobile electrical contact element 82, 82' and

the fixed electrical contact element 92, 92' occurs.

[0079]According to one embodiment, the switching control member 70 includes two opposite coupling elements that allow the rotatably coupling of the control member 70 with two opposite lateral walls of the case 20. In the particular example shown in the figures, the aforesaid coupling elements include two opposite cylindrical-shaped pins 76 protruding from the body 75 along the rotation axis A2-A2 towards opposite directions. According to one advantageous embodiment, one of the aforesaid pins 76 protrudes from the contact portion 72 and the other of the said pins protrudes from the bridge portion 71. For example, such pins 76 are inserted in corresponding pass through holes or recesses 276 defined in two opposite lateral walls of the case 20.

[0080]According to one embodiment, the body 75 of the

rocking control member 70 includes a portion 73 containing

an internally hollow seat adapted to receive an elastic

element, e.g. a helicoidal spring 77, operatively inserted

between the rocking control member 70 and the mobile

contact holder support 81. For example, the mobile contact

holder support 81, and in particular its base 810, includes

a protruding appendix 87 inserted inside the helicoidal

spring 77.

[0081]According to further embodiments, in the body of the

rocking control member 70 further accessory elements can

be provided, such as a wall 79 with a recess (not visible in the drawings because it points towards the bottom wall

21 of the case 20) adapted to receive an end of an elastic

element (as for example a helicoidal spring) adapted to

make the rocking control member 70 a monostable member.

[0082]As clearly shown from the above description, the

proposed push button operated switch 10 allows to fully

achieve the planned scopes in terms of overcoming the

drawbacks of the prior art. As clearly shown from the above

description, the proposed push button operated switch 10

allows to fully achieve the planned scopes in terms of

overcoming the drawbacks of the switches of the prior art.

Indeed, by virtue of the fact that the first stopping

system includes a button alignment system 30 including

alignment elements 250, 350 engaging with each other

starting from a given point on during the sliding movement

of the push button 30 from the forward position to the

backward position, it is possible to guarantee a correct

alignment of the push button 30 in the backward position

with respect to the reference plane RP. It must be noted

that the aforesaid alignment system does not imply the use

of guide surfaces extended between the case 20 and the

push button 30 during the course of the push button with

respect to the case, since it is enough for the alignment

system to operate from a certain point on of the course of

the push button to the backward position, even at a small distance (for example of some mm, e.g. 1 o 2 mm) from the backward position and just before it reaches the backward position starting from the forward position.

[0083] Subject to the principle of the invention, the

embodiments and the implementation details shall be widely

varied with respect to what has been said and shown for

exemplary purposes but not limited to, without detaching

from the field of the invention as defined in the enclosed

claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A push button operated switch including:

a case made of electrically insulating material,

having a bottom wall, lateral walls being joined to

the bottom wall and an open side opposite to the

bottom wall;

a push button that can be operated to command an

electrical commutation of the switch and having a

body provided with lateral walls crossing said open

side, the push button being adapted to slide with

respect to the case along a sliding axis, between a

forward position and a backward position;

at least one elastic element adapted to exert a

pushing force on the push button in order to bring

back or keep the push button in the backward

position;

- complementary snap fit elements provided on the

lateral walls of the case and on the lateral walls

of the body of the push button;

- a first stopping system including contact surfaces

of the lateral walls of the case and of the lateral

walls of the push button respectively, which are

abutting to each other when the push button is in the

backward position; wherein:

- the first stopping system includes a push button

alignment system including alignment elements engaging

with each other starting from a given point on during

the sliding movement of the push button (30) from the

forward position towards the backward position;

- said snap fit elements carry the above-described

alignment elements.

2. The push button operated switch according to claim

1, wherein the alignment elements allow progressively

aligning the push button with respect to a reference plane

perpendicular to the sliding axis.

3.The push button operated switch according to claims

1 or 2, wherein the alignment elements include at least

one variable cross-section guide and a corresponding

variable cross-section slider adapted to be inserted

inside the variable cross-section guide.

4.The push button operated switch according to claims

2 and 3, wherein the variable cross-section guide is a

tapered guide, having a decreasing cross-section in the

direction towards the reference plane.

5. The push button operated switch according to claim

4, wherein the variable cross-section slider is wedge

shaped.

6. The push button operated switch according to claim

2, wherein the contact surfaces are surfaces lying on an

inclined plane with respect to the reference plane when

the push button is in the backward position.

7. The push button operated switch according to claim

1, wherein the snap fit elements are shaped in order to

facilitate a forced insertion of the body of the push

button through the open side and, once they passed a

snapping position, to make interlocking snap-fit coupling

between the push button and the case, based on which the

push button is slidingly constrained to the case.

8. The push button operated switch according to claim

1, wherein the snap fit elements carry said contact

surfaces.

9.The push button operated switch according to any one

of the preceding claims, wherein, in order to stop the

push button in the forward position, the push button

operated switch includes a second stopping system

including contact elements respectively provided on the

lateral walls of the case and on the lateral walls of the

body of the push button.

10. The push button operated switch according to any one

of the preceding claims, including a system of spatially

distributed guides adapted to guide the sliding of the

push button with respect to the case along said sliding axis, wherein the system of spatially distributed guides includes:

- first guide elements operatively interposed between

the lateral walls of the push button and the lateral

walls of the case;

- second guide elements spaced apart with respect to

the first guide elements and placed with respect to

the first guide elements at a lower distance from the

bottom wall.

11.The push button operated switch according to claim

10, wherein the first guide elements include a first

plurality of appendices protruding from the lateral walls

of the case towards the lateral walls of the push button

and a second plurality of appendices protruding from the

lateral walls of the push button towards the lateral walls

of the case and each being adapted to contact a respective

appendix of the first plurality in order to slide thereon

when the push button slides with respect to the case.

12.The push button operated switch according to claim

11, wherein the first plurality of appendices and the

second plurality of appendices allow the lateral walls of

the push button to be spaced from the lateral walls of

the case when the push button slides with respect to the

case.

13. The push button operated switch according to any one

of the preceding claims, wherein the switch is a push

button operated switch with a rocking control member.