This application claims priority to European Patent Application EP 14 186 023.9 filed Sep. 23, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
It is the task of the present invention to propose a rocker switch, as well as a light with such a rocker switch, in the case of which the position of the shift paddle relative to the casing can be reliably and easily set.
2. Background of the Invention
Such a rocker switch is, for example, known from DE 1 880 359.
Rocker switches are, for instance, used for interior lighting in vehicles, in order to set various switching states of one or more illuminants.
DE 1 880 359 U discloses a rocker switch wherein the shift paddle is designed as a fork. By operating the shift paddle, a contact roller is moved towards a contact point. Two springs are supported on both sides of the casing and the shift paddle, and cause the shift paddle to return to its original position once operation of it has ended. The position of the shift paddle relative to the casing is set via a deflection arm. As a lot of components are to be found in the tolerance chain, the matching between the switch and the casing is very difficult.
According to the invention, this task is resolved by the casing having at least one inwardly directed first casing projection, on which the return spring is supported in the central position.
The casing projection forms a stop for the return spring, so that the shift paddle can be positioned relative to the casing with a high degree of accuracy when changing over from the operating position to the central position.
In order to change the shift paddle from the central position into the operating position, the shift paddle needs to unilaterally have force applied to it in the direction of operation (towards the PCB) against the spring tension of the return spring. Once no more force is applied, the return spring causes the shift paddle to return to the central position. According to the invention, when the shift paddle is changed from the operating position into the central position a flank of the readjusting spring comes to rest on the casing projection, so that the shift paddle is no longer moved any further against the direction of operation. The central position is thus, according to the invention, defined via the casing projection, by the readjustment of the shift paddle being limited by the return spring being supported on the casing projection.
In preferred embodiments, the casing projection is preferably designed as a rib (elongated projection) on the interior wall of the casing. A rib-shaped embodiment has a particularly great degree of stability.
The casing projection preferably extends from the side of the casing opposite the PCB in the direction of the PCB. The application of force of the readjusting spring then takes effect in the direction of the projection (i.e. in the direction in which the projection extends away from the wall of the casing), in which the projection is particularly resilient.
Alternatively, the projection may, however, also extend from a lateral wall of the casing, in parallel or at a slant in relation to the PCB, the lateral wall being vertical or placed at a slant in relation to the PCB.
The readjusting spring is preferably designed as a plate spring, which is bent in a āUā shape and is supported at one end against the shift paddle and, at the other end, against the PCB or against an element rigidly connected with the PCB. The return spring is thus tensioned between the shift paddle and the PCB or an element mechanically rigidly connected with the PCB.
Alternatively, a leg spring can also be used, of which one leg is supported against the shift paddle and the other leg against the PCB or against an element mechanically rigidly connected with the PCB.
The shift paddle preferably has a rocker projection, on which the return spring is supported in the central position and in the first operating position.
The rocker projection preferably extends from the contact arm of the shift paddle in a direction parallel to the PCB, and can, for example, be designed as a cam.
In the case of a particularly preferred embodiment of the shift paddle according to the invention, the shift paddle has a second contact arm and the PCB a second contact point, wherein, by operating the shift paddle, the latter can be brought from the central position into a second operating position, in which the second contact arm contacts the second contact point of the PCB. Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment a second readjusting spring is provided for, which holds the shift paddle in the central position. The casing has at least one inwardly directed second casing projection, on which the readjusting spring is supported in the central position. The contact arms of the shift paddle are preferably to be found on opposite sides of the shift paddle. The second readjusting spring causes the shift paddle to return from the second operating position. In this way three switching positions can be implemented.
In the case of a special embodiment of the rocker switch in accordance with the invention, the shift paddle comprises a transparent light plate. The shift paddle may then simultaneously serve both as a control element for the rocker switch and a light-emitting surface of an illuminant.
The invention also concerns a luminaire, in particular an interior light for a vehicle, with the rocker switch described above, wherein a reflector and at least one illuminant are configured between the PCB and the shift paddle.
The reflector is preferably fastened to the PCB, and the return spring is supported on the reflector.
Further advantages of the invention can be seen from the description and the drawing. The above-mentioned features, as well as the further features listed, can likewise be used independently or multiple features combined as desired. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as a conclusive list, but should rather be treated as examples to illustrate the invention.
The figures show the following:
Representations of a luminaire in accordance with the invention equipped with a rocker switch in accordance with the invention are shown in
In
In
The shift paddle 2 moreover has cam-like projections 9a, 9b, which essentially extend vertically away from the associated contact arm 4a, 4b. In the present example, plate springs, each of which is fixed with its one end attached to the reflector 5 and with its other end resting on one of the respective cam-like rocker protrusions 9a, 9b, serve as return springs 7a, 7b. The readjusting springs 7a, 7b are stretched between their attachment to the reflector 5 and the rocker protrusions 9a, 9b by means of a U-shaped bend. A force in the direction away from the PCB 6 therefore acts upon the shift paddle 2. As a result, the shift paddle 2 is held in its central position. According to the invention, the central position is defined by casing projections 10a, 10b, which extend from the interior wall of the casing in the direction of the PCB 6. The casing projections 10a, 10b form stops for the return springs 7a, 7b.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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14186023.9 | Sep 2014 | EP | regional |