US 7,105,762 B1 · Rocker switch and actuator therefor

Abstract

An actuator assembly is for a short-depth rocker switch including a housing having an opening, a cavity, a base, and a first depth between the opening and base. The actuator assembly includes an operating member having a first end disposed proximate the opening, and a second end extending into the cavity, and, an over-center mechanism disposed proximate the first end of the operating member, distal from the second end of the operating member. The over-center mechanism comprises a one or two-piece shaped element which defines a plurality of operating characteristics of the operating member, and which has a second depth which is less than about 25 percent of the first depth of the housing. This enables the overall depth of the rocker switch to be relatively short in comparison to known designs. A sensor for detecting the position of the second end of the operating member is also disclosed.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An actuator assembly for a rocker switch including a housing having an opening and a base, a distance between said opening and said base substantially defining a first depth, said actuator assembly comprising:

an operating member operable between a plurality of positions and including a first end and a second end, the first end of said operating member structured to be disposed proximate the opening of said housing of said rocker switch, the second end of said operating member structured to extend into said housing toward said base;
and
an over-center mechanism disposed closer to the first end of said operating member than to the second end and being structured to cooperate with the first end in order to define a plurality of operating characteristics of said operating member, said over-center mechanism having a second depth which is substantially less than said first depth.

A short-depth rocker switch comprising:

a housing including an opening and a cavity;
a base including a plurality of terminals extending from outside said housing into said cavity therein;
an actuator assembly comprising:
an operating member operable between a plurality of positions and including a first end and a second end, the first end of said operating member being disposed at the opening of said housing, the second end of said operating member extending into the cavity of said housing toward said base,
a shaped element cooperating with the first end of said operating member in order to define a plurality of operating characteristics of said operating member, said shaped element being disposed distal from the second end of said operating member,
at least one sensor disposed proximate said terminals and adapted to detect the position of said operating member;
wherein said shaped element is an over-center mechanism;
and wherein the shape of said over-center mechanism defines as said operating characteristics of said operating member, operating characteristics selected from the group consisting of positions of said operating member, actions of said operating member, and operating forces of said operating member;
and
wherein said over-center mechanism comprises first and second opposing shaped elements each having a pair of legs which pivotally engage said housing of said rocker switch, a generally horizontal portion, and a plurality of deflectable resilient extension members extending from said generally horizontal portions;
wherein the first end of said operating member includes corresponding protrusions structured to engage and pivot the generally horizontal portions of the corresponding one of said first and second opposing shaped elements thereby deflecting at least one of said deflectable resilient extension members;
and wherein said at least one of said deflectable resilient extension members is structured to provide feedback to said operating member, responsive to being deflected.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rocker switch and actuator therefor

Life of this patent

Rocker switch and actuator therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13