Low profile switch panel assembly
AssigneeIDD Aerospace Corporation
InventorAlan L. Emerson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch panel for an aircraft includes a cover and aback plate. A distance from the cover to the back plate is a thickness of the switch panel. In some cases, the thickness is less than about 9.525 mm. A button assembly for a switch panel for an aircraft includes a button base, a button retainer, and a lens. The button base includes a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side. In certain cases, the transition portion of the button base is beveled or radiused with a sloped or concave shape.
Claims16
An aircraft switch panel assembly comprising:
- a cover defining a cover receiving area and a cover opening providing access to the cover receiving area;
- a button stop within the cover receiving area, wherein the button stop defines a button stop receiving area that is aligned with the cover opening;
- a switch within the button stop receiving area;
- at least one light source within the button stop receiving area;
- and
- a button assembly positioned at least partially in the cover opening and the cover receiving area, wherein the button assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the switch, and wherein, in the engaged position, the button assembly contacts the button stop and the switch,
- wherein, in the disengaged position, a ledge of the button assembly contacts the cover and the button assembly is spaced apart from the button stop and the switch.
A switch panel assembly for an aircraft, the switch panel assembly comprising:
- a cover defining a cover receiving area and a cover opening, wherein the cover comprises a cover outer surface;
- a back plate defining a mounting surface of the switch panel assembly facing a direction opposite of the cover outer surface;
- a switch within the cover receiving area and aligned with the cover opening;
- and
- a button assembly positioned at least partially in the cover opening and the cover receiving area, wherein the button assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the switch,
- wherein a distance from the cover outer surface to the mounting surface of the back plate is a thickness of the switch panel assembly, and
- wherein the thickness is less than 9.525 mm,
- wherein the button assembly further comprises:
- a button base comprising a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side, wherein the transition portion of the button base is beveled or radiused with a concave or sloped shape;
- a button retainer supported on the button base;
- and a lens, wherein the button assembly is configured to direct light from below the button base, through the transition portion, through the button retainer, and through the lens,
- wherein the bottom end of the button base defines a plunger cavity recessed in the bottom end, wherein the button retainer comprises a ledge within the cover receiving area, and wherein the button assembly further comprises:
- a plunger at least partially within the plunger cavity, wherein the plunger contacts the switch in the engaged position.
A button assembly for a switch panel assembly for an aircraft, the button assembly comprising:
- a button base comprising a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side, wherein the transition portion of the button base is beveled or radiused with a concave or sloped shape, and wherein the transition portion is transparent such that light may pass through the transition portion;
- a button retainer supported on the button base;
- and a lens, wherein the button assembly is configured to direct light from below the button base, through the transition portion, through the button retainer, and through the lens,
- wherein the bottom end of the button base defines a plunger cavity recessed in the bottom end, wherein the button retainer comprises a ledge, and wherein the button assembly further comprises:
- a plunger stem within the plunger cavity;
- and
- a plunger supported on the plunger stem at least partially within the plunger cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.