Retrofittable switch guard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10418199-B2
Application number	US-201414264208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2014
Priority date	Apr 29, 2014
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch guard for preventing accidental actuation of a control switch, the switch guard comprising:
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; and
a mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure, 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;
wherein the rigid wall structure extends continuously around the control switch so as to completely surround a perimeter of the control switch, with the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls being oriented so as to each extend outwardly and upwardly relative to the control switch; and
wherein at least one of the pair of end walls has a height that extends up past a top surface of the control switch.

2. The switch guard of claim 1 wherein the mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure comprises a pair of spring pins or a single spring blade, with each of the pair of spring pins or the single spring blade having a body diameter that is larger than a diameter of its respective opening in the end wall, with the spring pins or spring blade being selectively depressible to reduce the diameter thereof and provide for translation thereof through its respective opening between the first position and the second position.

3. The switch guard of claim 2 wherein, when in the second position, the pair of spring pins or the single spring blade extends inwardly into a volume surrounded by the wall structure to mate with at least one hole or slot formed in a housing to which the control switch is attached, thereby securing the switch guard to the housing and about the control switch.

4. The switch guard of claim 2 wherein the mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure comprises a pair of spring pins, and wherein the at least one opening formed in each end wall comprises a pair of openings.

5. The switch guard of claim 2 wherein the mating feature provided at each of the end walls of the wall structure comprises a spring blade, and wherein the at least one opening formed in each end wall comprises a single opening.

6. The switch guard of claim 1 wherein the control switch comprises a rocker switch, with each of the pair of end walls having a height that extends up past a top surface of the rocker switch; and
wherein each of the pair of side walls of the rigid wall structure comprises a pair of sloped portions that slope downwardly from a respective end wall to meet at a midpoint of the side wall, with the midpoint being at a height that is less than the height of the pair of end walls.

7. The switch guard of claim 1 wherein the rigid wall structure comprises a half guard where one end wall is reduced in height as compared to the other end wall and where the two side walls slope downwardly from the other end wall to the end wall of reduced height.

8. The switch guard of claim 1 wherein the rigid wall structure is formed of a hard plastic or metal.

9. A vehicle control switch comprising:
a rocker switch switchable between a first activated position, a second activated position and an off position responsive to physical actuation of the rocker switch by an operator, the physical actuation comprising an application of force onto the rocker switch by the operator;
a switch housing to receive the rocker switch therein, the switch housing comprising a switch mount having one or more mating slots formed therein; and
a switch guard secured to the switch housing and positioned about the rocker switch, the switch guard comprising:
a wall structure defining a volume to receive the rocker switch therein; and
a depressible mating feature positioned on each of opposing ends of the wall structure, the depressible mating feature configured to selectively mate with the one or more mating slots formed in the switch housing to secure the switch guard to the switch housing;
wherein the wall structure comprises a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, with each of the pair of end walls having a height that extends up past a top surface of the rocker switch so as to prevent accidental actuation of the rocker switch to the first activated position and the second activated position by the operator.

10. The vehicle control switch of claim 9 wherein the wall structure comprises one or more openings formed in end walls at opposing ends thereof, and wherein the mating feature positioned on each of opposing ends of the wall structure comprises one or more spring pins.

11. The vehicle control switch of claim 10 wherein each of the one or more spring pins has a body diameter that is larger than a diameter of a respective opening in the end wall, with each spring pin being selectively depressible to reduce the diameter thereof and provide for translation thereof through its respective opening between a first position and a second position.

12. The vehicle control switch of claim 11 wherein, when in the second position, each of the one or more spring pins is positioned in a respective mating slot formed in the switch housing, thereby securing the switch guard to the switch housing and about the rocker switch.

13. The vehicle control switch of claim 9 wherein the rocker switch comprises one of a plurality of rocker switches in a switch module, and wherein the switch housing comprises a switch module housing configured to receive a plurality of rocker switches therein, with the depressible mating feature selectively mating with the one or more mating slots formed in the switch module housing to secure the switch guard to the switch module housing.

14. A retrofittable rocker switch guard for preventing accidental actuation of a rocker switch, the retrofittable rocker switch guard comprising:
a rigid wall structure configured to accommodate positioning of a rocker switch therein, the rigid wall structure comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, with each of the end walls including one or more openings formed therein; and
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, wherein each spring pin is depressible so as to vary a diameter thereof from a diameter larger than a diameter of its respective opening in which it is retained to a diameter that provides for placement of the spring pin within the opening and translation therethrough;
wherein each spring pin exerts a radial force against the opening in which it is retained so as to secure the spring pin in the opening in a fixed position; and
wherein at least one of the pair of end walls has a height that extends above a height of the rocker switch.

15. The retrofittable rocker switch guard of claim 14 wherein each spring pin is translatable between a first position and a second position, with the spring pin extending inwardly into a volume surrounded by the wall structure when in the second position; and
wherein, when the spring pin is in the second position, the spring pin mates with at least one hole or slot formed in a switch housing to which the rocker switch is attached, thereby securing the switch guard to the switch housing and about the rocker switch.

16. The retrofittable rock

Assignees

• Eaton Corp
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Davin Robert
• Fitzgerald Richard William
• Nickerson Robert W
• Leland Dana Kathryn

Classifications

• H01H23/04

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• H01H2300/024

  Avoid unwanted operation · CPC title

• H01H9/287 Primary

  wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers · CPC title