US2684411A - Push-button switch construction - Google Patents

Description

July 1954 L. L. VERKUIL 2,684,411

PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1951 1b lmrullfwr) Isnnentor 450 L. l f /r/ru @2195 mum Gttorneg Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES iTENT OFFICE Leo L. Verkuil, Norwalk, Conn, assignor to Ed- Norwalk, 001111., a corpo- Wards Company, Inc.,

ration of New York Application April 13, 1951, Serial No. 220,867

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to push button switch construction.

One or" the objects of this invention is to provide a push button switch construction that will be neat in appearance, compact, and convenient in practical use. Another object is to provide a push button switch construction of the multiple push type in which identifying indicia for the different switches or pushes may be easily and conveniently applied or changed. Another object is to provide a construction of the justmentioned type in which visibility of the identifying indicia is greatly enhanced and their legibility made easier, all in a manner free from impairment of ease and facility of assembly, or even of disassembly for purposes of changing the identifying indicia. Another object is to provide, in a push button switch construction, a simple, practical, and reliable arrangement for protectively holding and displaying identifying indicia, such as a small sheet or tab of paper, cardboard, or like sheet material, bearing the desired legends. Another object is to provide a construction of the just-mentioned nature in which change or rearrangement of the identifying indicia may be easily and speedily effected.

Another object is to provide an improved push button switch construction of the gang or multiple switch type and to facilitate and simplify manufacture and assembly thereof. Another object is to provide a push button switch construction in which the push button or manual actuator which controls the switching device can have applied to it the desired legend or identifying indicia in a manner that is simple and foolproof and does not interfere with the switching mechanism, and yet achieves dependable and reliable switch actuation without being interfered with by the switch mechanism itself. Another object is to carry out this last-mentioned object by means of coacting subassemblies which are individually adapted for simple and efficient manufacture and assembly and which coact in achieving facility and dependability of assembly thereto of the desired legend-bearing tabs, plate, or other sheet material.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be in dicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which simic4 lar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is a small-scale perspective view of a multiple push button switch as it appears in use;

Figure 2 is a plan or top elevation a it is seen with the upper or cover part of the casing removed;

Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the base portion and the multiple switch subasseznbly ready to be assembled to the former;

Figure l is a perspective view of a frame forming part of the subassembly of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-section as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View as seen along the line 5-i of Figure 1.

For purposes of illustration, let it be assumed that four circuits, usually signalling circuits, are to be controlled, each by a manually depressible actuator, usually called a push or a push button, whether or not it is round in shape; it is also desired to identify, by an appropriate legend or other identifying indicia, the push allocated to each of the circuit switches. In the illustration, therefore, four legends are to be applied to the four pushes. Since these legends have to be changed frequently and are oftentimes typewritten on usually not too heavy paper, the resultant small tabs, according to past practices, are diflicult to handle or to install or replace, and one of the dominant aims of this invention is to provide a construction in which such objections and difficulties are overcome in a simple and practical way.

I first provide a sheet or plate 53 of suitably rigid insulating material, such as hard fiber, and at its respective ends punch two pairs of transversely spaced holes HH and i2--l'2 (Figures 3 and 6), and intermediate of these pairs of holes I punch out, for each switch structure and push, a set of holes so that there are virtually as many identical sets of holes punched in the insulating plate it as there are switches and pushes. Accordingly, it will suffice to describe one set of such holes, the remaining three sets, where there are four pushes, being the same.

Along the longitudinal axis of plate it, a round hole [3 (Figures 5 and 6) provides a bearing for slidably guiding the metal stem i i whose upper end is suitably anchored and secured in a small block is of non-conductive material, preferably a molded plastic, which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is rectangular in horizontal cross-section, as appears from Figures 3, 5, and 6; the upper end of the round stem is may be knurled and press-fitted into the block member is, or the material of the latter may be molded about the stem in the process of molding and curing it when made of a suitable curable plastic. Slipped onto the stem H5 is a washer or apertured disc N5 of any suitable springy material and it is held against the under side of the member l5 by a helical spring i? that extends about the stem i l and abuts against the insulating plate Ill.

The metal disc i6 is a contact bridging element and underneath it are insulatingly supporter, by plate Ill, two identical spaced upstanding contact points :8, i8 (Figure 5). Each is integral with a small connector plate .Zilwhich restscros wise of the insulating plate l3 and to one side of the central longitudinal axis, and each plate 28 is stamped to provide two tongues 2i and 22 (Figure 6) which pass through two holes 23 and 24, respectively, punched in the plate iii, against the under side of which they are bent over to hold the connector plate 26 assembled. Each connector plate 253 has a bindingscrew threaded into it at its outer-end and the threaded end portion of the screwcan pass into a hole ifi'punched in the insulating plate'lil (Figure 5'). The circuit to be controlled by any contact bridging'disc is may thus have its conductors connected to the two binding screws 25, 25 allocated to that particular contact bridging disc and, as is better seenin Figure 2, the binding screws '25, 25 are aligned in two rows, each along one longitudinal edge-of the insulatingplate It, where they are thus conveniently accessible.

The block-like member 5 at the upper end of the metal stem I 3 isguided for up and down movement, as viewed in Figures 3 and 6, by the walls of a rectangular aperture 2? (see Figure 4) punched out of the top wall 28 of a sheet metal frame, generally indicated by the reference character :28, having depending side walls 23 and 28 which are cut or stamped to provide depending shouldered tongues 39 of which, in the illustration, the endmost pairs "of tongues 3b and 3b are shown in Figure 4 to be of about half the width as the intermediate tongues '30, thus to indicate that the frame 28 is cut from a long stamping according'to the number of apertures 2'! that pass through them in the particular multiple switch structure, four in the illustrative embodiment. When thus-cut transversely to the desired length, the cutting proceedsalong a plane through the middle or" two opposed depending tongues and that accounts for the narrower width of the endmost pairs of tongues 3t, 313.

Each block member 15 is provided adjacent its lower end withsuitable means to limit its upward sliding movement between the side walls 28 and 23 of the frame 23, and between the opposed guiding walls of the aperture 2 and where :the block member 55 is rectangular in horizontal cross-section; this means preferably comprises laterally projecting flanges 3i and 3! (see Figure 6) along the opposed longitudinal sides of the block member I5 which are thus adapted to engage against the under face of the top wall 28 of the frame 25.

With the desired number of block members [5, each with its stem M. and bridging disc 55 and spring l-i, assembled to the frame 2s by projecting each block member is through an aperture 27, the resultant assemblage is now secured to the insulating plate iii which has punched in it suitable holes 32 (Figure 6) di- "23 as .is shown in Figure 3.

mensioned to receive the tongues 39 up to the transverse shoulders in the latter, the tongue portions that project beyond the under side of the insulating plate lil being then bent over to clamp the plate it against the shoulders.

In the resultant subassembly, the spring ll presses upwardly, as vi wed in Figures 6 and 3, againstthe bridging disc it and block member 55, holding the latter in uppermost position with the side flanges 3i and Si of the block member 55 engaging against the under side of the top wall The flanges 3!, 3|, in coaction with the stem M in the hole i3 of insulating plate ii thus neatly align each block -member is relative to the frame 28 and all of the block members I5 stand projected upwardly, as in Figure .3.

1 provide a housing or casing, preferably of two separable parts, such as a lower part generally indicated in Figure 5 at and an upper casing part generally indicated at t l. The lower casing part 33 is preferably a metal plate 35 in the form or" a stamping of sheet metal, and adjacent each or" its two narrow ends (Figure 3') there is cut and bentupwardly and out of the plane of the metal plate a flange part 360i a dimension about equal to the width of theinsulating plate it? (Figure 3), and projecting from the flange part it are two spaced tongues 37 and The conformation of these parts, as is best shown in Figure 3, can be easily achieved in a suitable punch and die operation.

The above-described subassembly of the insulating plate is and its related parts, shown in exploded perspective in Figure .3, is .now: se-

cured to the bottom plate 35, the pairs of tongues 37 3'; at the two ends of the plate 35 are ontered into the respective pairs of holes I I-l l and l2 2 of the insulating plate, the free-ends of the tongues are then bent over (see Figure 6), and the insulating plate is thus clamped against the horizontal edges of the upstanding flanges 36515, thus also reinforcing the plate iii, as is better shown in Figures '5 and -3, positioning and supporting it so that the various eondutive parts of the switching mechanism, such'as the-clamping tongues 25, 22 of the connector plates 21!, as well as the ends of the screws 25, are all held insulatingly spaced from the metal base plate 35.

The upper casing part 34 casing part as comprises a top wall 3 5 and peripheral side walls fis which are rabbettecl at their bottom edges (Figures 5 and 6) to form a snug seat for the base plate 35 of the switching mechanism subassembly and for thereby aligning each block member 55 with a hole 3'! in the top-wall 34% hole Bl, in the illustrative embodiment, being shaped to be larger than the cross-section of that portion of the block member l5 that is to project through the hole, in order to provide clearance and a coacting relationship for a push, genera-ll indicated by the reference character '46, in the form of an inverted housing-like element telescopically related to block member 55. -Where the block member is of rectangular cross-section, in the illustrative embodiment, the interior hollow space within the push element id is of similar cross-section and hence has a top wall ill from which depend side walls #8 that outline a rectangle.

The top face us of the block member iii is preferably flat to form a suitable support against which to rest a nameplate ll (see also Figure 3') which may be of any suitable sheet material and which bears any appropriate identifying legend,

as indicated in the drawings by the word Name, and the under face 49 of the top wall ll) of the push element as is parallel to the face l 5 so that, when the parts I5 and 40 are telescopically related to each other with the name tab or plate 4| interposed between them, the name tab 4|, even if of relatively light or fragile material like paper, is neatly held flatwise and, as later described, is held under compression between the two parallel faces 40 and [5 Moreover, these faces need not be horizontal, but can be at an angle, as is better shown in Figures 3 and 6, thus making for greater ease of legibility. The push element is made of any suitable transparent material, illustratively a transparent thermo-plastic such as methyl methacrylate, a form of which is known as Lucite, so that the legend on the tab at can be seen through the top wall 45 Furthermore, the latter may be given any suitable cross-section to cause it to function as a magnifying lens and, in the illustrative embodiment, with a fiat under face 40, its external surface is externally convex, being generated by a straight line moving along a suitable curve, as in a so-called planocylindrical lens. Thus readability is facilitated, and with a substantial degree of magnification the various parts may be constructed in physically very small and diminutive form.

Onto each of the several block members I5 there is telescopically assembled such a transparent push element 40 with an interposed name plate or tab. Preferably suitable mean are provided to releasably hold the push element 43 and the block member together, and such a means may comprise a small shallow recess I5 (Figure 6) in a side face of the block member and a small rounded-over projection ie on the inside of the corresponding side wall of the push element 40; these parts may be easily formed during the molding of the block member I5 and. push member 40, and preferably the recess I5 is of greater length vertically (Figure 6) than is the projection 40*, thus to provide appropriate leeway for accommodating different thicknesses of nameplate elements 4! interposed between the two parts. The side wall bearing the projection l0 yields or flexes outwardly as the push element 40 is slid onto or off the block member I5.

The several conductors of the various signalling circuits may now be connected to the several switching devices, by of the binding screws 25, and the upper casing part 34 may then be put into position over the above-described subassembly, one end wall of the upper casing part 34 having a suitable hole 34 (Figure 6) through which the conductors are first brought. As the casing part 34 is let down over the subassembly, each push element 4i! is accommodated in a hole 31 in the top wall of the casing and the bottom plate seats itself in the rabbet of the bottom edges of the casing side walls 34 (Figures 5 and 6); but before this latter seating is completed, lateral projections, in the form of flanges AW and 4B (Figure 6) on each of the push elements 4.6, are engaged by the under side of the top wall 34 of the casing 34, each along a longitudinal side of a hole 31, and by this engagement and continuing downward movement of the upper casing 3 3 to complete the seating of the plate 35 in the wall rabbets, the push elements at, and the parts housed therein and underneath, are moved downwardly so as to bring the lateral flanges 3! on the block members I5 spaced downwardly from the top wall 28 of the sheet metal frame 28, as is shown in Figure 6. As a result, the spring I1 about each stem I4 has its amount of compression increased and the force it exerts in upward direction, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, instead of being taken up by the engagement of flanges 3i, 3I of the block member I 5 with the frame plate 28 is taken up by the engagement of the flanges 4i) and 40 against the under side of the casing top wall 34 but the spring l! exerts its upward force upon the push element 40 through the block element I5, which it tends to press farther and farther into the push element All and thereby holds the name tab or nameplate M compressed between the two faces 48 and I5 The name tab is thus in effect always held and compressed fiat, and disarrangement or shifting thereof is guarded against.

At diagonally opposite corners the upper casing part 34, which can be molding of any suitable plastic material, is provided with bosses, of which one is shown in Figure 6 at 52; these are provided with threaded holes to receive screws 43 that pass through suitable holes 44 in the lower casing part 33 to hold the latter with its metal plate part 35 seated in the wall rabbets, as above described. The bottom plate 35 (Figures 5 and 6) may have secured to its bottom surface a sheet 45 of any suitable non-metallic cushioning material, such as leather, rubber, or the like, for cushioning and non-scratching engagement with the surface on which the structure is to rest, such as a desk.

Where the device embodies more than one switch structure, each with its own push element as, selection of the desired push to depress is made easy by the elements of visibility and magnification of the identifying indicia, as above described. Depression of the selected push brings the contact bridging disc 15 (Figure 5) into engagement with the spaced contact points Iii-48 to close the circuit, and by giving the under surface of the block member i 5 a rounded or convex shape about the stem I l, the contact disc is can freely tilt and even bow or flex to accommodate itself to the applied desired pressure and to the spaced contacts i8ll, and by such an arrangement the need for costly precision of dimensioning, mounting, and spacing of the contact points [8-48 can be avoided. Moreover, the several parts are so proportioned that excessive downward depression is precluded, in that, as better appears in Figure 6, the bottom end. edges or faces of the wall of the push element 48 find the top wall 28 of the frame 28 in their path of downward movement; here engagement can take place only after good contact bridging engagement between the disc IS and the spaced contacts iii-l3 has been effected. Where base plate 35 is metallic, these limiting actions are of advantage in preventing metal stem I4 from contacting plate 35.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a push button switch construction in which the various objects heretofore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. The device has many advantages from the viewpoint of manufacture and assembly, as well as in actual use. For example, it is a simple operation to remove the upper casing part and then, by simply pulling off the push element 4G, to remove and replace the name tab M, and reassembling the parts, in case it is desired to change the identifying indicia.

As many possible embodiments may be made of 2. the above inventioniand as many changes might bexmade in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanyingdrawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple push buttcn switch construction comprising a casing forming a substantially complete enclosure and having separable upper and lower casing partsof which the lowercasing part comprises a fiat metal :base withmeans for detachably holding them together, said casing having means for the entry into the interior thereof of a multiple-conductor cable, said upper casing part having a plurality of apertures, an internal frame structure comprising spaced upper and lower parts of which the lower is made of nonconductive material, the upper frame part having a plurality of apertures, one for each of the apertures in upper casing part, said frame struce tu-re having a plurality of switches with contact elements connector elements of which the latter are secured to said insulating lower frame part and thereby insulated from eachother and, upon separation of upper and lower casing parts, are accessible for the connection thereto of cir cuit conductors of said cable, .a plurality of actuators, one for each of said switches and each comprising two superimposed interr'itting members having identifying indicia interposed therebetween and of which the upper one is .transparent, with the lower one slidably coasting with an aperture in said upper part of said frame structure and with the transparent upper one slidably coasting in an aperture in said uppercasing part, and means securing said frame structure to said metal base.

2. A multiple push button switch construction according to claim 1 in which said switchcontact and connector elements are secured'to said lower insulating frame part by conductive means that are exposed on the under side of said lower frame part, said metal base having upstanding spacer means holding said frame structure with said ex.- posed conductive securing means .out of contact with said metal base.

3. A multiple push button switch construction according to claim 1 in which each switch actuator is depressible and has a downwardlysextending conductive guiding stem and said lower non-conductive frame part has a plurality of apertures, one for each conductive stem, to coact in guiding during movement of depression, and means holding said frame structure with said non-conductive lower frame part thereof spaced from said metal base and thereby coact toprevent contact of said conductive stems with said metal base.

4. A multiple push button switch construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said metal base i of sheet metal and said 1astmentioned means comprises a plurality of spaced danger-like parts of said sheet metal base bent upwardly out of its plane and against which said non-conductive lower frame part engages, said securing means comprising ear-like extensions of said flange-like parts for clamping said lower frame part -there-- against.

5. A multiple push buttonswitch construction comprising a frame structurecarrying a-plurality of switches and having an apertured frame plate through which project upwardly biased operating members, one for each switch, each switch having means coacting with said frame structure to limit outward movement of its operating meme ber relative to its frame plate aperture, an apertured top plate having a plurality of transparent push members each of which is made of nonconductive material and has integrally formed therewith lateral flanges and each of which has a pocket-like recess open at its under-side and providing an interior bottom face in the recess against which to receive identifying indicia, there being one recessed push member for each operating member and each exposed at an aperture in said top plate with the lateral flange thereof below the top plate, the operating members hav ing parts respectively received into the pocket-' like recesses of the non-conductive transparent push members and telescopically interfitting therewith to form connection therebetween whereby each transparent push member is detachable from its operating member upon movement thereof in the direction in which said operating member is spring-biased, identifying in.- dicia received in each pocket-like recess and thereby interposed between each operating meme ber and its transparent-push member, and means for detachably securing said front plate to said frame structure.

6. A multiple push button switch construction comprising a casing having a plurality of switches therein and comprising separable-upper and lower casing parts with means for detachably securing them together, said upper casing part having a plurality of apertures, one for each switch, each switch having a manual actuator that comprises two parts of which one is an outer transparent member having an upper portion exposed at an aperture in said upper casing part and having depending side walls surrounding and forming a pocket-like recess for receiving ther in identifying indicia and of which the other is an inner member, said outer member icing made of a molded plastic material and said depending side walls being resiliently 'yieldable, said inner member having a part received within said pocket-like recess and coacting with said yieldable side walls of the outer transparent member to form a .detachable connection therewith, and iden ying indicia at the bottom of each recess and interposed between the two members forming the manual actuator and visible through the outer transparent member thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,249,122 Edwards July 1-5, 1941 2,264,042 Lawler et a1 Nov. 25, .1941 2,265,124 Andres Dec. 9, 194i

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