Key switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11735376-B2
Application number	US-202017639679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2020
Priority date	Sep 13, 2019
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A key switch including: a support base; a key which is manually operable for being moved, with respect to the support base, between at least a first operating position and a second operating position spaced apart from each other, in order to establish or interrupt at least one electric connection; a leaf spring member operatively interposed between the support base and the key; wherein the first operating position is a stable operating position of the key in which the leaf spring member is deformed between the key and the support base so as to take a first curvilinear configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A key switch comprising:
a support base;
a key which is manually operable for being moved, with respect to the support base, between at least a first operating position and a second operating position spaced apart from each other, in order to establish or interrupt at least one electric connection;
a leaf spring member operatively interposed between the support base and the key;

wherein:
the first operating position is a stable operating position of the key in which the leaf spring member is deformed between the key and the support base so as to take a first curvilinear configuration;
the second operating position is a stable operating position of the key, and wherein, in the second stable operating position, the leaf spring member is deformed between the support base and the key so as to take a second curvilinear configuration;
the leaf spring member extends between a first end portion and a second end portion, and wherein the first end portion is in contact with the key;
the second end portion directly rests on the support base.

2. A key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the key is a rocking key adapted to rotate with respect to the support base about a rotation axis.

3. A key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the key is a sliding key adapted to translate with respect to the support base along a sliding direction.

4. A key switch according to claim 1 , comprising a casing having a bottom wall which defines said support base, a side wall and an upper opening, so as to define an open box-like body, wherein the upper opening is closed by the key, and wherein the second end portion rests on said bottom wall.

5. A key switch according to claim 1 , wherein said first and/or said second end portion is a curved or folded or rounded end portion.

6. A key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the key comprises a respective recess adapted to house and retain said first end portion and/or said support base comprises a respective recess adapted to house and retain said second end portion.

7. A key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the key is adapted to be moved to take a third operating position spaced apart from said first and second operating positions, and wherein said third operating position is an unstable operating position.

8. A key switch according to claim 7 , wherein the first operating position is an intermediate position between said second and third operating positions, whereby starting from the third operating position, upon releasing a manual pressure exerted on the key, the leaf spring member configured to attract back the key to the first operating position.

9. A key switch according to claim 8 , comprising at least one stop member adapted to abut against the leaf spring member when passing from said first operating position to said third operating position to limit a deformation of the leaf spring member.

10. A key switch according to claim 1 , comprising at least one electrically conductive movable bridge mounted on the key to be moved together with the key, and wherein the key further comprises at least two fixed contact members adapted to be electrically connected and disconnected to/from each other by means of the movable bridge based on the position taken by the key.

11. A saddle-ride type vehicle comprising at least one key switch according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Piaggio & C Spa
• Piaggio & C Spa

Inventors

• Pedani Giuseppe

Classifications

• H01H3/3047 Primary

  adapted for operation of a three-position switch, e.g. on-off-earth · CPC title

• H01H23/30

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

• H01H2235/028

  Blade spring · CPC title

• H01H15/18 Primary

  acting with snap action · CPC title

• H01H9/06

  Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner · CPC title