Patent Application
20190115166
Embodiments of the invention relates to the field of electrical switch assemblies. More specifically, the invention relates to a durable and secured housing for a switch in high vibration environments.
Most military aircraft pilots carry their personal communication equipment as part of their flight suit. Usually when a pilot enters the cockpit, he/she plugs the communication equipment cable into the appropriate aircraft's communication system port. Currently, the personal communication equipment cable includes a switch and housing assembly that is susceptible to unintentional activation by being bumped in the narrow confines of the cockpit, is bulky and is hard to feel, especially for a person wearing a thick glove. The size of the prior art switch is one of the reasons that it is difficult to utilize since one needs to locate the rocker in the middle of the large housing and then actuate. The switch assembly is also susceptible to fracturing and to moisture accumulation.
Accordingly, there is a need for a switch assembly for personal communication equipment that avoids the aforementioned problems in the prior art.
One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to a durable and secured switch assembly that is much more compact than prior art designs and may be simply actuated by finger or palm regardless its position. The invention comprises an alternate action switch enclosed in a tubular housing. The switch comprises a switch body, a push button on a proximal end of the switch body, and two primary cable terminals on a distal end of the switch body.
In one or more embodiments, the housing has a lumen configured to securely retain the switch body. The lumen has first section that is configured to provide a first peripheral spacing between the switch body and the wall of the housing at the proximal end of the switch body. The lumen also has a second section that is configured with a second peripheral spacing between the switch body and the wall of the housing at the distal end of the switch body. Between the first and second section of the lumen is a section that acts as a stop to prevent downward movement of the switch body within the housing. The second section includes a peripheral notch near its bottom end. The housing further comprises a channel across its bottom end, i.e. from the left side to the right side. The channel comprises a first portion of a primary cable channel.
In one or more embodiments, a cover that is configured to snap fit into the peripheral notch is coupled to the distal end of the housing to enclose the primary cable terminals. The cover includes a cavity for the primary cable terminals. The cover includes the second portion of the primary cable channel running from one side of the cover to an opposing side of the cover. The first and second portions together form an orifice that is a channel for connecting a primary cable to the primary cable terminals.
In one or more embodiments, the cover further comprises one or more external access holes for injecting epoxy into the cavity.
In one or more embodiments, the first peripheral spacing, the second peripheral spacing and the cavity are filled with epoxy or similar type non-conductive material.
In one or more embodiments, the spacing between an outside wall of the housing and an outside wall of the cover forms a secondary cable channel for securing a secondary cable to the housing.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
The present invention comprising a durable and secured switch assembly will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. Furthermore, although steps or processes are set forth in an exemplary order to provide an understanding of one or more systems and methods, the exemplary order is not meant to be limiting. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the steps or processes may be performed in a different order, and that one or more steps or processes may be performed simultaneously or in multiple process flows without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. It should be noted that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention.
For a better understanding of the disclosed embodiment, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation.
The term “first”, “second” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with references to
One or more embodiments of the invention comprises a switch and housing assembly 200 in a personal communication cable assembly 100. The personal communication cable includes one or more connectors, e.g. 116, 112, and 102. The personal communication cable further includes a primary cable 106 electrically connected a switch 200 and a secondary cable 108 mechanically retained by the switch housing. On each side of the switch is an adhesive heat shrink 110.
In one or more embodiments, the perimeter of housing 300 comprises a first outside section 301 that begins from the top of the housing and runs towards the bottom of the housing; a second outside section 302 abutting the first section 301 and that is larger than the first section 301; and a third outside section 303 abutting the second section 302 and that is approximately the same size as the first outside section 301 and runs to the bottom of the housing 300. The space, e.g. 306, defined by sidewall of the third outside section 303 and bottom wall of the second outside section 302 comprises a first portion 306 of the secondary cable channel 212 around the perimeter of the bottom end of the housing 300. The peripheral shape of body 300 may be cylindrical, cubic, or any other shape. Those of skill in the arts would appreciate that the external shape of body 300 may differ from that shown without deviating from the invention.
Lumen 310 comprises a first section 311 at the proximal end with a diameter slightly larger than the largest outer diameter, i.e. 513, of switch 500. The lumen 310 of housing 300 further comprises a second section 313, abutting the first section 311, with a diameter smaller than section 311 and approximately equal to the largest outer diameter, i.e. 513, of switch 500 thus sufficient to snugly fit section 513 of switch 500. The depth of section 313 of the lumen is approximately the height of section 513 of switch 500. In one or more embodiments, the diameter of section 311 is sufficient to provide space, e.g. 222, between the outside section 511 of switch 500 and the inside wall of section 311 for epoxy or similar material for sealing the space around the switch body at section 511. The epoxy seal helps prevent moisture from entering the switch assembly 200. Those of skill in the art would appreciate that materials other than epoxy may be used for sealing in space 222. In one or more embodiments, space 222 may be omitted entirely.
The lumen 310 of housing 300 further comprises a third section 315 abutting the second section 313 and running to approximately halfway towards the distal end of housing 300. The diameter of the third section 315 is smaller than the first section, i.e. 311, and second section, i.e. 313, and is sufficient to act as a stop to restrain the downward movement of switch 500. The lumen 310 of housing 300 further comprises a fourth section 317 abutting the third section 315 and running to the distal end of housing 300. The diameter of the fourth section 317 is larger than the third section, i.e. 315, and provides space for epoxy to seal the space around the switch body at section 515. The epoxy seal helps prevent moisture from entering the switch assembly 200. Those of skill in the art would appreciate that materials other than epoxy may be used for sealing in space 224. In one or more embodiments, space 224 may be omitted entirely.
The fourth section 317 of lumen 310 further comprises a notch 312 around the inside perimeter of lumen 310 near the distal end of housing 300. Notch 312 is configured to receive and flange 409 of bottom fitting (or cover) 400 thus securing the cover 400 to the housing 300.
Cover 400 further comprises a second channel, e.g. 410, across its top side. Channel 410 is a second portion of the primary cable channel 210. The depth of channel 410 runs from the tip of the cover section 405 the top of first section 403.
Cover 400 further comprises one or more holes, e.g. 421 and 422, at the bottom wall to provide access to cavity 420 from the outside. Holes 421 and 422 are used to fill compartment 420 with epoxy after cover 400 is snap coupled with housing 300.
As shown in the illustrations and discussed herein, the switch assembly is compact in size, secure and stable with enhanced sealing to prevent moisture contamination. The switch assembly is also not susceptible to inadvertent activation. A user, e.g. pilot, wearing a thick glove can easily activate the switch by finger or palm. The switch assembly also provides tactile feedback to the user with the clicking action of the push button 502.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
