US3895204A - Electrical switches - Google Patents
Electrical switches Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3895204A US3895204A US356057A US35605773A US3895204A US 3895204 A US3895204 A US 3895204A US 356057 A US356057 A US 356057A US 35605773 A US35605773 A US 35605773A US 3895204 A US3895204 A US 3895204A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- operating member
- housing
- switch
- switch operating
- window
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H13/02—Details
- H01H13/023—Light-emitting indicators
Definitions
- An operating member is May 6, 1972 United Kingdom 21233/72 slidable relative to the housing to effect Switching perations and includes an end wall which is visible to an [52] US. Cl 200/314; 200/311 operator of the switch r m th xterior of the hous- [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 9/16
- the end Wall includes a plurality of translucent 58 Field of Search 200/167 A, 311, 313, 315, ponions and a plurality of separate light paths are P 200/316; I16/DIG 28, 124 L; 240/2 5; vided to the translucent portions respectively from a 3 50/1 12 286 287; 340/380 side wall of the member which is disposed internally of the housing.
- a wall of the housing adjacent the side 56] Referen e Ci d wall of the member is provided with a window such UNITED STATES PATENTS that light from an external light source can pass through the window of the housing and is thereafter 1,823,319 9/1931 Dickinson ZOO/167 A 3 144 643 8H9 Andersson ZOO/167 A X caused to pass through one or some of the translucent 3 163'739 12/1964 Hutt 200/167 A 1mms the end Swltch P 3:169:506 2/1965 Morris 200/167 A x her by Way of the light Paths defined in the Operating 3,213,269 10/1965 Melvin et al... l16/DIG. 28 member.
- an electrical switch comprising a housing, a switch operating member mounted in the housing to be slidable relative thereto to effect switching operations, said member having an end wall which is viewable externally of the housing and which has a plurality of translucent portions therein means defining separate light paths respectively to the'translucent portions from a side wall of the member disposed internally of the housing and adjacent a wall thereof, window means in the said wall of the housing arranged so that, in use, light from a source externally of the housing passes through the window meansin the housing and is caused to pass through one or some of the translucent portions in the end wall of the switch operating member by the light path defining means so as to provide a visual indication of the instantaneous operating position of the switch operating member.
- the switch operating member is hollow and the means defining separate light paths comprises one or more opaque partitions dividing the switch operating member into a plurality of compartments and a window associated with each compartment in the said side wall of the switch operating member, the said windows of the compartments being disposed transversely of the direction of movement of the switch operating member.
- the window means in the housing comprises a window extending transversely of the direction of movement of the switch operating member so as to be capable of transmitting light to all of the compartments, some of the windows in the compartments being staggered longitudinally with respect to the direction of movement of the switch operating member whereby movement of the switch operating member causes different windows in the switch operating member to be aligned with the window in the housing.
- the switch operating member is divided into three compartments with two of the windows therein being staggered longitudinally and the third being elongated longitudinally, the arrangement being such that the operating member is movable between two positions, in both of which the lastmentioned window in the switch operating member is exposed so that the translucent portion associated therewith is always lit irrespective of the position of the switch operating member.
- window as used herein is meant an aperture or an aperture closed by a light transmitting material.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an electric switch according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a part-sectional plan view of the switch of FIG. 1.
- the electrical switch comprises a housing 1 including a clip-on top 1a and a switch operating member 2 disposed in the housing to be slidable relative thereto.
- the electrical switch is provided with the usual electrical contacts which are selectively engageably by depressing the switch operating member. Such electrical contacts are not shown since .ing part of the carrier 2b divide the switch operating member 2 into three compartments 4,5 and 6.
- An end wall 7 of the knob case 2a is disposed so as to viewable externally of the body 1 and is a composite wall being formed of an acrylic lens 8, a polyester film 9 and a series of three white lenses 10, the lenses 10 being associated respectively with the compartments 4,5 and 6.
- the polyester film 9, in the region of compartment 5, is coloured green and is provided with lettering thereon so as to indicate the purpose of the switch.
- the polyester film, in the regions of compartments 4 and 6, is coloured red and green, respectively.
- a side wall 11 of the carrier 2b forms a mask having three apertures 12,13 and 14 therein associated with the compartments 4,5 and 6, respectively, there being cut-outs 20 provided where necessary in the knob case 2a.
- the apertures 12 and 14 are staggered relative to one another longitudinally with respect to the direction of sliding movement of the switch operating member 2, whilst the aperture 13 is extended so as to have a portion which is in transverse alignment with aperture 12 and a portion which is in transverse alignment with aperture 14.
- a wall of the housing 1 which is adjacent to side wall 11 has an aperture 15 therein.
- the aperture 15 extends transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the switch operating member 2 so as to be capable of transmitting light to the compartments 4, 5 and 6 through the apertures 12, 13 and 14, respectively.
- Each compartment 4, S and 6 is sprayed white inside to increase light reflection therein and is also provided with an angled surface 16 whereby light from the respective aperture 12, 13 or 14 is reflected towards the end wall 7.
- a source of light (not shown) is provided externally of the housing 1 and is arranged to supply light through the window 15 in the housing 1.
- the aperture 14 in the switch operating member 2 is moved out of alignment with window 15 whilst the aperture 12 associated with compartment 4 is moved into alignment with window 15, aperture 13 remaining in alignment due to its extended length.
- the green coloured film 9 associated with compartment 6 is no longer illuminated whilst the red coloured film 9 associated with compartment 4 becomes illuminated and the lettering indicating the position of the switch stays illuminated. In this latter position of the switch operating member 2, the switch contacts are made.
- the apertures 12, 13 and 14 associated with the compartments 4, 5 and 6 together with the partitions 3 and the angled surfaces 16 form means defining separate light paths respectively to the end wall 7 from the side wall 11 of the switch operating member 2.
- the present invention provides a convenient way of indicating the purpose and condition of an electrical switch using a single light source which is mounted externally of the electrical switch and therefore is relatively accessible for replacement purposes.
- a position indicating electrical switch comprising a housing, a single hollow switch operating member mounted in the housing for slidable movement relative thereto to effect selective switching operations, said operating member having an end wall which is viewable externally of the housing and having a plurality of separate translucent portions therein, one or more opaque partitions dividing the hollow interior of the operating member into a plurality of compartments to form the translucent portions in the end wall of the operating member, apertured mask means formed by a side wall of said operating member relative to said housing and defining separate light paths respectively to said translucent portions, said mask means including an aperture associated with each of said compartments, and disposed transversely of the direction of movement of the switch operating member.
Landscapes
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
- Tumbler Switches (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB2123372A GB1427320A (en) | 1972-05-06 | 1972-05-06 | Electrical switches |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3895204A true US3895204A (en) | 1975-07-15 |
Family
ID=10159453
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US356057A Expired - Lifetime US3895204A (en) | 1972-05-06 | 1973-04-30 | Electrical switches |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3895204A (de) |
AR (1) | AR195427A1 (de) |
AU (1) | AU475469B2 (de) |
BR (2) | BR7203240D0 (de) |
CS (1) | CS167382B2 (de) |
DE (1) | DE2322664C3 (de) |
ES (1) | ES191155Y (de) |
FR (1) | FR2184043B1 (de) |
GB (1) | GB1427320A (de) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4071726A (en) * | 1975-02-11 | 1978-01-31 | Lucas Electrical Company, Limited | Electrical switch having actuator light transmissive region, intermediate lens and light source |
US4277665A (en) * | 1979-01-10 | 1981-07-07 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Illuminated push-button electrical switch |
US4370532A (en) * | 1981-02-23 | 1983-01-25 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Lighted electrical pushbutton switch |
US4395611A (en) * | 1980-09-25 | 1983-07-26 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Illuminated push-button switch |
US4454399A (en) * | 1981-11-17 | 1984-06-12 | Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho | Change-over position display device for use in a switch |
US4459448A (en) * | 1982-11-04 | 1984-07-10 | Mcdill Glenn A | Double pull double throw switch |
US4771725A (en) * | 1986-04-30 | 1988-09-20 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Push button indicating device |
US5146057A (en) * | 1990-09-07 | 1992-09-08 | Ford Motor Company | Antireflective switch |
EP1780738A1 (de) * | 2006-07-07 | 2007-05-02 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Beleuchtbarer Schalter für mobile Bediengeräte |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4163883A (en) * | 1977-12-30 | 1979-08-07 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Keyboard with illuminated keys |
DE2936192C2 (de) * | 1979-09-07 | 1981-10-22 | Daimler-Benz Ag, 7000 Stuttgart | Beleuchtbare Drucktaste, insbesondere für Kraftwagen |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1823319A (en) * | 1927-10-11 | 1931-09-15 | Dickinson William Noble | Responsive signal system |
US3144643A (en) * | 1960-12-10 | 1964-08-11 | Gasaccumulator Svenska Ab | Push-button illuminating device |
US3163739A (en) * | 1961-09-13 | 1964-12-29 | Gen Electric | Switch with selectively lighted pushbutton actuators |
US3169506A (en) * | 1963-12-16 | 1965-02-16 | Philco Corp | Operation-indicating means for pushbutton-operated mechanism |
US3213269A (en) * | 1962-09-25 | 1965-10-19 | Gen Electric | Illuminated push-button system |
US3482542A (en) * | 1967-11-17 | 1969-12-09 | Gen Motors Corp | Illuminated position indicating device |
US3619591A (en) * | 1970-02-19 | 1971-11-09 | Gen Dynamics Corp | Illuminated pushbuttons using piped light |
US3780248A (en) * | 1971-03-20 | 1973-12-18 | R Martin | Electrical switches |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1665631B1 (de) * | 1966-05-09 | 1972-03-16 | Rau Swf Autozubehoer | Beleuchtungseinrichtung fuer schalter von fahrzeugen insbesondere von kraftfahrzeugen |
-
1972
- 1972-05-04 BR BR3240/72A patent/BR7203240D0/pt unknown
- 1972-05-06 GB GB2123372A patent/GB1427320A/en not_active Expired
-
1973
- 1973-04-30 US US356057A patent/US3895204A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1973-05-01 AU AU55084/73A patent/AU475469B2/en not_active Expired
- 1973-05-03 AR AR247836A patent/AR195427A1/es active
- 1973-05-04 BR BR3240/73A patent/BR7303240D0/pt unknown
- 1973-05-04 FR FR7316820A patent/FR2184043B1/fr not_active Expired
- 1973-05-04 ES ES1973191155U patent/ES191155Y/es not_active Expired
- 1973-05-05 DE DE2322664A patent/DE2322664C3/de not_active Expired
- 1973-05-07 CS CS3233A patent/CS167382B2/cs unknown
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1823319A (en) * | 1927-10-11 | 1931-09-15 | Dickinson William Noble | Responsive signal system |
US3144643A (en) * | 1960-12-10 | 1964-08-11 | Gasaccumulator Svenska Ab | Push-button illuminating device |
US3163739A (en) * | 1961-09-13 | 1964-12-29 | Gen Electric | Switch with selectively lighted pushbutton actuators |
US3213269A (en) * | 1962-09-25 | 1965-10-19 | Gen Electric | Illuminated push-button system |
US3169506A (en) * | 1963-12-16 | 1965-02-16 | Philco Corp | Operation-indicating means for pushbutton-operated mechanism |
US3482542A (en) * | 1967-11-17 | 1969-12-09 | Gen Motors Corp | Illuminated position indicating device |
US3619591A (en) * | 1970-02-19 | 1971-11-09 | Gen Dynamics Corp | Illuminated pushbuttons using piped light |
US3780248A (en) * | 1971-03-20 | 1973-12-18 | R Martin | Electrical switches |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4071726A (en) * | 1975-02-11 | 1978-01-31 | Lucas Electrical Company, Limited | Electrical switch having actuator light transmissive region, intermediate lens and light source |
US4277665A (en) * | 1979-01-10 | 1981-07-07 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Illuminated push-button electrical switch |
US4395611A (en) * | 1980-09-25 | 1983-07-26 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Illuminated push-button switch |
US4370532A (en) * | 1981-02-23 | 1983-01-25 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Lighted electrical pushbutton switch |
US4454399A (en) * | 1981-11-17 | 1984-06-12 | Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho | Change-over position display device for use in a switch |
US4459448A (en) * | 1982-11-04 | 1984-07-10 | Mcdill Glenn A | Double pull double throw switch |
US4771725A (en) * | 1986-04-30 | 1988-09-20 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Push button indicating device |
US5146057A (en) * | 1990-09-07 | 1992-09-08 | Ford Motor Company | Antireflective switch |
EP1780738A1 (de) * | 2006-07-07 | 2007-05-02 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Beleuchtbarer Schalter für mobile Bediengeräte |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AR195427A1 (es) | 1973-10-08 |
FR2184043A1 (de) | 1973-12-21 |
BR7303240D0 (pt) | 1974-07-11 |
DE2322664A1 (de) | 1973-11-15 |
CS167382B2 (de) | 1976-04-29 |
DE2322664C3 (de) | 1981-07-16 |
AU5508473A (en) | 1974-11-07 |
DE2322664B2 (de) | 1980-10-30 |
AU475469B2 (en) | 1976-08-26 |
GB1427320A (en) | 1976-03-10 |
ES191155U (es) | 1974-06-16 |
ES191155Y (es) | 1974-12-01 |
BR7203240D0 (pt) | 1974-07-11 |
FR2184043B1 (de) | 1976-11-12 |
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