Switches may be used in various industries to control machinery or equipment. The switches may be actuated in various ways, including by other components and/or by hand. In some cases, a switch may be part of a device, such as a joystick or other input device. The device incorporating the switch may have various components, including one or more components for actuating the switch, which may require various hardware or other fasteners to be assembled. Thus, such devices may become expensive to manufacture and assemble, and the various components and hardware may add complexity and cost.
As will be discussed in greater detail below, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus for actuating a switch of an operator control device, and related methods. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a trigger shaped to mate with the operator control device. The trigger may include an integrated preload portion formed, at least in part, within the trigger. The trigger may further include an integrated actuator portion formed, at least in part, at an interfacing portion of the trigger. The integrated actuator portion may be configured to interface with the switch of the operator control device.
Some or all of the following features may be included. The apparatus may include an integrated rotation portion formed, at least in part, at a first end of the trigger. The apparatus may further include a first mating portion formed at a first end of the trigger and shaped to allow the trigger to mate with the operator control device. The apparatus may also include a second mating portion formed at a second end of the trigger opposite the first end of the trigger and shaped to allow the trigger to mate with the operator control device. The integrated rotation portion may be configured to interface with, at least in part, a pivot portion of the operator control device. The integrated rotation portion may be configured to allow at least a portion of the trigger to rotate around the pivot portion of the operator control device upon the trigger being mated to the operator control device. The integrated actuator portion may be configured to apply pressure to the switch of the operator control device upon pressure being exerted on the trigger. The integrated actuator portion may be configured to actuate the switch of the operator control device upon pressure being exerted on the trigger. The integrated actuator portion may be configured to contact the integrated preload portion upon pressure being exerted on the trigger.
In embodiments, a change in a spring rate of the integrated preload portion may be caused by the contact of the integrated actuator portion with the integrated preload portion. The change in the spring rate of the integrated preload portion may be detectable by an operator of the operator control device. At least a first portion of the trigger, the integrated rotation portion, the integrated actuator portion, and the integrated preload portion may rotate upon pressure being exerted on the trigger. The trigger may be formed from an elastomeric material. An elastomeric property of the trigger may provide flexibility for the trigger to be snapped into position in a trigger opening of the operator control device. The trigger and the integrated preload portion may be a single part. The trigger and the integrated preload portion may be formed from a single piece of elastomeric material. The trigger may not require a separate component to mate with the operator control device.
In an embodiment, a method for forming an apparatus for actuating a switch of an operator control device may include forming a trigger shaped to mate with the operator control device. The method may further include forming an integrated preload portion of the trigger, at least in part, within the trigger. The method may also include forming an integrated actuator portion of the trigger, at least in part, at an interfacing portion of the trigger. The integrated actuator portion may be configured to interface with the switch of the operator control device.
Some or all of the following features may be included. The method may include forming an integrated rotation portion of the trigger, at least in part, at a first end of the trigger. The trigger and the integrated preload portion may be formed from a single piece of elastomeric material. The trigger may not require a separate component to mate with the operator control device
In an embodiment, an apparatus for actuating a switch of an operator control device may include a trigger shaped to mate with the operator control device. The trigger may include an integrated preload portion formed, at least in part, within the trigger. The trigger may further include an integrated actuator portion formed, at least in part, at an interfacing portion of the trigger. The trigger may also include an integrated rotation portion formed, at least in part, at a first end of the trigger. The trigger may additionally include at least one mating portion shaped to allow the trigger to mate with the operator control device. The integrated rotation portion may be configured to allow at least a portion of the trigger to rotate around a pivot portion of the operator control device upon pressure being exerted on the trigger and cause the integrated actuator portion to actuate the switch of the operator control device.
The details of one or more example implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other possible example features and/or possible example advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Some implementations may not have those possible example features and/or possible example advantages, and such possible example features and/or possible example advantages may not necessarily be required of some implementations.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings may indicate like elements.
The discussion below is directed to certain implementations. It is to be understood that the discussion below is only for the purpose of enabling a person with ordinary skill in the art to make and use any subject matter defined now or later by the patent “claims” found in any issued patent herein.
It is specifically intended that the claimed combinations of features not be limited to the embodiments and/or implementations and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those implementations including portions of the implementations and combinations of elements of different implementations as come within the scope of the following claims. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. Nothing in this application is considered critical or essential to the claimed invention unless explicitly indicated as being “critical” or “essential.”
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first object or step could be termed a second object or step, and, similarly, a second object or step could be termed a first object or step, without departing from the scope of the invention. The first object or step, and the second object or step, are both objects or steps, respectively, but they are not to be considered a same object or step.
Referring to
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Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a trigger/actuator for actuating a switch. The trigger/actuator may be formed from an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material may enable the trigger/actuator to have integral features that may generate a preload (e.g., provide a preload spring function) without a separate spring (e.g., without a steel leaf spring 104 or 204 as described above regarding
For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize an integrated spring-web feature to perform the preload spring function. As discussed above, the trigger/actuator may use elastomeric properties to allow flexibility for being snapped into position in a trigger opening of an operator control device, as snap-fits may be efficient for manufacturing/assembly of mating components (e.g., a trigger/actuator that mates with or is otherwise secured to an operator control device such as a joystick or a grip), and may improve production time. Thus, an operator control device may use a trigger/actuator made of elastomeric material to enable it to have integral features that generate preload without a separate spring, such that the cost and quantity of components for the trigger/actuator may be reduced (i.e., by integrating multiple features into one part or component). Embodiments of the present disclosure may include features built into a single piece of elastomer that forms the trigger, which may include a preload spring element, an actuator, a pivot/rotation feature, and/or snap-fit style mating features for assembly (e.g., for mating/securing the trigger with the operator control device).
Referring to
Embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed towards an apparatus (e.g., a trigger such as trigger 302 or 402) for actuating a switch of an operator control device (e.g., grip 300 or 400), and related methods. For example, and referring to
Referring to
Further, the trigger may include an integrated actuator portion 604 formed, at least in part, at an interfacing portion 606 of the trigger 600. The interfacing portion 606 of the trigger 600 may be a portion of the trigger 600 that interfaces with an operator control device (e.g., the operator control device 500 of
Also, the trigger 600 may include an integrated rotation portion 610 formed, at least in part, at a first end 610 of the trigger. The integrated rotation portion 610 may include a pivot interface 612. In some embodiments, the pivot interface 612 may be included elsewhere on the trigger 600. The pivot interface 612 may rotate about an axle, which may be part of an operator control device (e.g., the operator control device 500) that may interface with the pivot interface 612.
Additionally, the trigger 600 may include a first mating portion 614 formed at the first end 610 of the trigger. The first mating portion 614 that may be shaped to allow the trigger 600 to mate with an operator control device (e.g., the operator control device 500). The trigger 600 may also include a second mating portion 616 formed at a second end 618 of the trigger 600 opposite the first end 610 of the trigger 600. The second mating portion 616 may also be shaped to allow the trigger 600 to mate with the operator control device.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the trigger 702 and the integrated preload portion 704 may be a single part or component. For example, the trigger 702 and the integrated preload portion 704 may be formed from a single piece of elastomeric material. Further, the preload spring feature may provide additional travel space (e.g., for a finger depressing the trigger 702) and/or additional resistance in operation as the operator applies pressure to the trigger 702. The integrated actuator portion 706 may be configured to contact the integrated preload portion 704 (e.g., via preload extension 710) upon pressure being exerted on the trigger.
Referring to
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The one or more integrated rotation portions 1106 may be configured to allow at least a portion of the trigger 1102 to rotate around, at least in part, the one or more pivot portions 1104 (e.g., the one or more axles) of the operator control device 1100 upon the trigger 1102 being mated to the operator control device 1100. At least a first portion of the trigger 1102, the one or more integrated rotation portions 1106 (e.g., the one or more axles), an integrated actuator portion 1110, and an integrated preload portion (e.g., such as integrated preload portion 704 of
In operation, as the trigger 1102 is pressed (e.g., by the operator), the trigger 1102 may rotate around the one or more pivot portions 1104 (e.g., the one or more axles) and the integrated preload portion (e.g., the integrated preload portion 704 of
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For example, a process 1400 for forming a trigger may include forming (1402) a trigger (e.g., trigger 1102) shaped to mate with the operator control device (e.g., operator control device 1100). The process may further include forming (1404) an integrated preload portion (e.g., the integrated preload portion 704 of
In some embodiments, the process 1400 may include forming (1408) an integrated rotation portion (e.g., the integrated rotation portion 610 of
Using the techniques and features described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide advantages over existing approaches. Such advantages may include, but are not limited to, lower cost due to fewer components in the trigger assembly, lower cost due to less expensive material (e.g., elastomers) and mold tooling for the trigger, reduced assembly time facilitated by snap-fit style features, quieter operation of the trigger, tactile feel for the operator provided by use of an elastomer to form the trigger, increased reliability, a reduction in part-to-part variation due to reduced part/component count, and simple adjustment of a pre-travel force-deflection curve. By reducing the trigger assembly part/component count from six parts (e.g., including attachment screws as discussed above with regard to
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Although a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the scope of the present disclosure, described herein. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph (f) for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ or ‘step for’ together with an associated function.
Having thus described the disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 63/242,580, filed 10 Sep. 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63242580 | Sep 2021 | US |