Flat wall switch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11404229-B2
Application number	US-202016844005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2020
Priority date	Apr 15, 2019
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A switch having a push panel, a rocker, and a rocker actuator that actuates the rocker each time the push panel is pushed by a user. The switch includes a conductive switch member, that is toggled by the rocker, to connect and disconnect a first terminal from a second terminal. The switch is constructed to help reduce dust and debris from entering into the wall switch, and the switch may provide a visual cue to indicate a current ON/OFF state of the switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch, comprising:
a first terminal;
a second terminal;
a push panel configured to be pushed inward by a user from a REST position to an END STOP position against a push panel bias, and then return to the REST position under the push panel bias;
a rocker configured to rock between an ON position and an OFF position about a rotation axis;
a rocker actuator configured to actuate the rocker alternately between the ON position and the OFF position each time the push panel is pushed from the REST position to the END STOP position, the rocker actuator is further configured to move in the inward direction when the push panel is pushed inward by the user from the REST position to the END STOP position, and a slidable part of the rocker actuator is also configured to move in a direction lateral to the inward direction against a lateral bias member as the rocker is actuated between the ON position and the OFF position;
a conductive switch member operatively coupled to the rocker and electrically coupled to the first terminal, wherein the rocker is configured to toggle the conductive switch member between a CLOSED position and an OPEN position, wherein the rocker moves the conductive switch member to the CLOSED position when the rocker is moved by the rocker actuator to the ON position of the rocker, and the rocker moves the conductive switch member to the OPEN position when the rocker is moved by the rocker actuator to the OFF position of the rocker;
wherein in the CLOSED position, the conductive switch member connects the first terminal to the second terminal, and in the OPEN position, the conductive switch member does not connect the first terminal to the second terminal;
wherein the slidable part of the rocker actuator includes a first push feature and a second push feature, and wherein the rocker includes a first receiving feature and a second receiving feature, wherein:
when the rocker is in the ON position, and the push panel is pushed inward by the user from the REST position to the END STOP position, the first push feature of the slidable part of the rocker actuator engages and pushes the first receiving feature of the rocker inward, which rocks the rocker from the ON position to the OFF position about the rotation axis with the first push feature moving with the first receiving feature in both the inward direction and in a first direction lateral to the inward direction as the first receiving feature travels along an arc in a first rotation direction about the rotation axis, while the rocker moves the conductive switch member from the CLOSED position to the OPEN position; and
when the rocker is in the OFF position, and the push panel is pushed inward by the user from the REST position to the END STOP position, the second push feature of the slidable part of the rocker actuator engages and pushes the second receiving feature of the rocker inward, which rocks the rocker from the OFF position to the ON position about the rotation axis with the second push feature moving with the second receiving feature in both the inward direction and in a second direction lateral to the inward direction as the second receiving feature travels along an arc in a second rotation direction about the rotation axis, while the rocker moves the conductive switch member from the OPEN position to the CLOSED position.

2. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the push panel bias is provided by one or more springs, and the lateral bias member comprises one or more springs.

3. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the slidable part of the rocker actuator is configured to move in a first lateral direction from a NEUTRAL position against the lateral bias member as the rocker is actuated from the ON position to the OFF position, and to move in a second opposing lateral direction from the NEUTRAL position against the lateral bias member as the rocker is actuated from the OFF position to the ON position.

4. The switch of claim 3 , wherein the lateral bias member is configured to return the slidable part of the rocker actuator to the NEUTRAL position each time the push panel returns to the REST position under the push panel bias.

5. The switch of claim 1 , further comprising a rocker flag positioned behind the push panel, wherein the rocker is configured to move the rocker flag between a VISIBLE position and a NON-VISIBLE position, wherein the push panel includes an aperture that is positioned such that the rocker flag is visible through the aperture when the rocker flag is in the VISIBLE position and the rocker flag is not visible through the aperture when the rocker flag is in the NON-VISIBLE position.

6. The switch of claim 1 , wherein:
the rocker comprises a plunger that includes a switch member bias element;
the conductive switch member comprises a control region and a contact region, wherein the control region is operatively coupled between a plunger of the rocker and a switch member support, wherein the switch member support is electrically coupled to the first terminal; and
when the conductive switch member is in the CLOSED position, the contact region of the conductive switch member electrically connects to the second terminal, and when the conductive switch member is in the OPEN position, the contact region of the conductive switch member does not electrically connect to the second terminal.

7. The switch of claim 6 , wherein the plunger provides a larger bias force to the control region of the conductive switch member against the switch member support when the conductive switch member is between the CLOSED position and the OPEN position relative to when the conductive switch member is at the CLOSED position or the OPEN position.

8. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the push panel bias is provided by one or more springs.

9. A switch, comprising:
a first terminal;
a second terminal;
a push panel configured to be pushed inward by a user from a REST position to an END STOP position against a push panel bias, and then return to the REST position under the push panel bias;
a rocker configured to rock between an ON position and an OFF position;
a rocker actuator configured to actuate the rocker alternately between the ON position and the OFF position each time the push panel is pushed from the REST position to the END STOP position;
the rocker including a switch member bias element;
a conductive switch member comprising a control region and a contact region, wherein the control region is operatively coupled between the switch member bias element of the rocker and a switch member support, wherein the switch member support is electrically coupled to the first terminal;
the rocker is configured to toggle the conductive switch member between a CLOSED position and an OPEN position, wherein the rocker moves the conductive switch member to the CLOSED position when the rocker is moved by the rocker actuator to the ON position of the rocker, and the rocker moves the conductive switch member to the OPEN position when the rocker is moved by the rocker actuator to the OFF position of the rocker, wherein when the conductive switch member is in the CLOSED position, the contact region of the conductive switch member electrically connects to the second terminal, and when the conductive switch member is in the OPEN position, the contact region of the conductive switch member does not electrically connect to the second terminal; and
wherein the switch member bias element of the rocker comprises a plunger that engages the control region of the conductive switch member, and the switch member support comprises a recess for receiving a first side of the control region of the conductive switch member, and the plunger comprises a recess for receiving a second side of the

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Singh Dilip
• Kumar Arvind
• Pandey Varun

Classifications

• H01H9/02 Primary

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H13/60

  with contact-driving member moved alternately in opposite directions · CPC title

• H01H13/56

  the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force · CPC title

• H01H23/06 Primary

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings · CPC title

• H01H23/30

  with stable centre positions and one or both end positions unstable · CPC title