GB2573877A

GB2573877A - Emergency switch device

Info

Publication number: GB2573877A
Application number: GB1904725.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chung Chang Chih
Original assignee: Gianni Industries Inc
Current assignee: Gianni Industries Inc
Priority date: 2019-04-04
Filing date: 2019-04-04
Publication date: 2019-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-04
Also published as: GB2573877B; GB201904725D0

Abstract

An emergency switch comprises a chamber 13 formed in a receptacle or outer housing 10 and an opening 17 to the chamber formed in the housing. A circuit board 20 including a switch button 21 and an emergency member 22 (such as a light or buzzer) is disposed in the chamber. The device further comprises an actuator 5 comprising a casing or sleeve 50 engaged in the opening, a shaft 56 slidably engaged through the sleeve, and a spring 58 for biasing the shaft out of both the sleeve and housing. A cover 30 is attached to the housing and engages with the shaft to depress the shaft into the sleeve, forcing it to engage with the switch button when the cover is closed. When the cover is opened, the shaft is biased away from the switch button by the spring. The sleeve may include a flange 51 to anchor the casing to the receptacle, which may include a peripheral shoulder 18 to engage with the flange. The cover may be pivotally attached to the housing. The use of the cover to move the actuator and actuate the emergency switch enables greater ease of switch operation by a user.

Description

EMERGENCY SWITCH DEVICE

The invention relates to an emergency switch device for being easily actuated or operated by the users.

Typical emergency switch devices comprise a switch button disposed in an outer receptacle or housing for being actuated or operated by the users to actuate an emergency light or buzzer or speaker or the like for generating an emergency signal and for warning the users.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,364,556 to Otte, and U.S. Patent No. 4,983,960 to Dunn disclose two of the typical emergency switch devices each comprising an outer receptacle or housing, and a switch button slidably or movably disposed in the outer housing for being actuated or operated by the users to actuate an emergency light or buzzer or speaker or the like.

However, the typical emergency switch devices may not be easily actuated or operated by the users.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an emergency switch device for being easily actuated or operated by the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an emergency switch device comprising:a receptacle including a chamber formed in the receptacle, and including an opening formed in and communicating with the chamber of the receptacle, an electric circuit board disposed in the chamber of the receptacle, and including a switch button and an emergency member disposed on the circuit board, an actuating device including a casing engaged in the opening of the receptacle, a shaft slidably engaged through the casing, and a spring biasing member engaged between the casing and the shaft for biasing and forcing the shaft out of the casing and the receptacle, and for allowing the shaft to be depressed into the casing and the receptacle selectively, and a cover attached to the receptacle for engaging with the shaft and for depressing the shaft into the casing and the receptacle, and for forcing the shaft to engage with the switch button of the circuit board selectively, and for allowing the shaft to be biased and forced away from the switch button of the circuit board selectively by the spring biasing member when the cover is disengaged from the shaft.

The casing preferably includes a flange extended therefrom and engaged with the receptacle for anchoring the casing to the receptacle and for preventing the casing from being disengaged from the receptacle. The receptacle may include a peripheral shoulder formed therein and communicating with the opening of the receptacle for engaging with the flange of the casing.

The casing preferably includes at least one catch extended therefrom for engaging with the receptacle and for retaining the casing to the receptacle. The receptacle may include a peripheral recess formed therein and communicating with the opening of the receptacle for engaging with the catch.

The actuating device may include a retaining member attached to the shaft and engaged in the chamber of the receptacle for engaging with the casing selectively and for preventing the shaft from being disengaged from the casing.

The casing preferably includes a peripheral rib extended radially and inwardly into the bore of the casing for forming an orifice in the casing. The cover may be pivotally attached to the receptacle with a pivot axle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an emergency switch device;

FIG. 2 is a side plan schematic view of the emergency switch device;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the emergency switch device, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another side plan schematic view 2, illustrating the operation of the emergency switch device;

FIG. 5 is another cross sectional view of the emergency switch device, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view of the emergency switch device; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partially exploded view of the emergency switch device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, an emergency switch device comprises an outer housing or receptacle 10 made of or including a one-integral structure or configuration or including two housing members 11, 12 which may be coupled or assembled together, the receptacle 10 includes a compartment or chamber 13 formed therein, such as formed in the housing members 11, 12 of the receptacle 10, for receiving or engaging with one or more (such as three) plates or boards or panels 14, 15, 16, and an electric circuit board 20 or the like therein. The circuit board 20 includes a switch button 21 and an emergency member 22, such as a light or speaker or buzzer 22 or the like disposed on the circuit board 20, in which the emergency member 22 may be provided for generating an emergency light or sound signal to warn the users.

The receptacle 10 includes an aperture or opening 17 formed therein, such as formed in the upper housing member 11 (FIGS. 3, 5, 6) and communicating with the chamber 13 of the receptacle 10, and includes an outer or upper peripheral shoulder 18 and an inner or lower peripheral recess 19 formed therein and communicating with the opening 17 of the receptacle 10, and having an inner diameter greater than that of the opening 17 of the receptacle 10. The receptacle 10 further includes a cover 30 pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured or coupled to the receptacle 10 with a pivot spindle or shaft or axle 31 or the like for allowing the cover 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the receptacle 10 between an upwardly opened working position (FIG. 4) and a downwardly closed or storing position (FIGS. 1-3).

The emergency switch device further comprises a switching or actuating device 5 including a sleeve or casing 50 disposed or engaged in the opening 17 of the receptacle 10, and the casing 50 includes a peripheral flange 51 extended radially and outwardly from the upper portion thereof and contacted or engaged with the peripheral shoulder 18 of the receptacle 10 for anchoring or retaining or positioning the casing 50 to the receptacle 10 and for preventing the casing 50 from being disengaged or separated from the receptacle 10. The casing 50 may further include one or more (such as two) spring or flexible or resilient latches or catches 52 extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the peripheral recess 19 of the receptacle 10 and for further anchoring or retaining or positioning the casing 50 to the receptacle 10.

The casing 50 includes an orifice or bore 53 formed therein, and further includes a peripheral rib 54 extended radially and inwardly from the lower portion thereof and into the bore 53 of the casing 50 for forming or defining an inner hole or orifice 55 therein, in which the diameter of the bore 53 of the casing 50 is greater or no less than that of the orifice 55 of the casing 50, the actuating device 5 further includes a pole or shaft 56 slidably engaged through the bore 53 and the orifice 55 of the casing 50, and an enlarged head 57 formed or provided on the shaft 56, and a spring biasing member 58 is disposed or engaged onto the shaft 56 and contacted or engaged with and between the peripheral rib 54 of the casing 50 and the head 57 of the shaft 56 for biasing and forcing or moving the head 57 of the shaft 56 out of the casing 50 and the receptacle 10, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and for allowing the head 57 of the shaft 56 to be depressed into the casing 50 and the receptacle 10, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with or by the cover 30 selectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an anchoring or retaining ring or member 59 is attached or mounted or secured to the shaft 56 and disposed or engaged in the chamber 13 of the receptacle 10 for contacting or engaging with the casing 50 selectively and for preventing the shaft 56 from being disengaged or separated from the casing 50. As best shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4, the shaft 56 is aligned with the switch button 21 of the circuit board 20 for allowing the shaft 56 to be depressed and actuated or operated to engage with the switch button 21 of the circuit board 20 selectively when the head 57 or the shaft 56 is depressed with or by the cover 30 selectively (FIGS. 1, 2). The spring biasing member 58 may bias and force or move the shaft 56 away from the switch button 21 of the circuit board 20 when the cover 30 is pivoted or rotated relative to the receptacle 10 to the upwardly opened working position (FIG. 4) and when the cover 30 is disengaged or separated from the head 57 or the shaft 56.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, when the cover 30 is pivoted or rotated relative to the receptacle 10 to the downwardly closed or storing position, the cover 30 may be contacted or engaged with the head 57 or the shaft 56 for depressing the head 57 or the shaft 56 into the casing 50 and the receptacle 10, and also for depressing and forcing or moving the shaft 56 to engage with the switch button 21 of the circuit board 20 selectively. In this situation, the emergency member 22 or the light or speaker or buzzer 22 may be switched off and may be prevented from generating the emergency light or sound signal or the like at this moment selectively.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG 4, when the cover 30 is pivoted or rotated relative to the receptacle 10 to the upwardly opened working position, the cover 30 is disengaged or separated from the head 57 or the shaft 56, and the spring biasing member 58 may bias and force or move the shaft 56 away from the switch button 21 of the circuit board 20, at this moment, the emergency member 22 or the light or speaker or buzzer 22 may be switched on and may generate the emergency light or sound signal or the like selectively. Accordingly, the switch button 21 of the circuit board 20 may be easily and quickly and readily and effectively actuated or 5 operated and switched on and off with or by the cover 30.

Accordingly, the emergency switch device includes an improved and simplified structure or configuration that may be easily and quickly made or manufactured by the manufacturers and that may be easily and quickly and readily and effectively actuated 10 or operated by the users.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. An emergency switch device comprising:

a receptacle including a chamber formed in the receptacle, and including an opening formed in and communicating with the chamber of the receptacle, an electric circuit board disposed in the chamber of the receptacle, and including a switch button and an emergency member disposed on the circuit board, an actuating device including a casing engaged in the opening of the receptacle, a shaft slidably engaged through the casing, and a spring biasing member engaged between the casing and the shaft for biasing and forcing the shaft out of the casing and the receptacle, and for allowing the shaft to be depressed into the casing and the receptacle selectively, and a cover attached to the receptacle for engaging with the shaft and for depressing the shaft into the casing and the receptacle, and for forcing the shaft to engage with the switch button of the circuit board selectively, and for allowing the shaft to be biased and forced away from the switch button of the circuit board selectively by the spring biasing member when the cover is disengaged from the shaft.

2. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing includes a flange extended therefrom and engaged with the receptacle for anchoring the casing to the receptacle and for preventing the casing from being disengaged from the receptacle.

3. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receptacle includes a peripheral shoulder formed therein and communicating with the opening of the receptacle for engaging with the flange of the casing.

4. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing includes at least one catch extended therefrom for engaging with the receptacle and for retaining the casing to the receptacle.

5. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receptacle includes a peripheral recess formed therein and communicating with the opening of the receptacle for engaging with the catch.

6. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating device includes a retaining member attached to the shaft and engaged in the chamber of the receptacle for engaging with the casing selectively and for preventing the shaft from being disengaged from the casing.

7. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing includes a peripheral rib extended radially and inwardly into the bore of the casing for forming an orifice in the casing.

8. An emergency switch device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the receptacle with a pivot axle.