STEPPED STROKE BUTTON

Abstract

A stepped stroke button includes a transmission unit having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; an operating unit arranged at the first end; and a contact unit arranged at the second end and axially guided in a first guide. At least one of the operating unit and the contact unit is configured to be axially movable with respect to the transmission unit, wherein during operation of the stepped stroke button, an operating stroke occurring relative to the first guide is configured differently from a mediated contact stroke occurring relative to the first guide. The ratio of the operating stroke to the contact stroke is greater than 1:1 and the operating stroke is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

Claims

1. A stepped stroke button (1) comprising: a transmission unit (2) having a first end (3) and a second end (4) opposite the first end (3); an operating unit (5) arranged at the first end (3); and a contact unit (7) arranged at the second end (4) and axially guided in a first guide (6), at least one of the operating unit (5) and the contact unit (7) being configured to be axially movable with respect to the transmission unit (2), wherein, during operation of the stepped stroke button, an operating stroke occurring relative to the first guide (6) is configured differently from a mediated contact stroke occurring relative to the first guide, the ratio of the operating stroke to the contact stroke being greater than 1:1.

2. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the operating stroke to the contact stroke is between 1.0001:1 and 1.5:1 and wherein the operating stroke is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

3. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 1, wherein an axial force (F) exerted on the operating unit (5) acts at least partially through the transmission unit (2) on the contact unit (7).

4. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first restoring unit (8) acts at least indirectly on the contact unit (7) and the operating unit (5).

5. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 4, wherein a second restoring unit (9) acts at least indirectly on the operating unit (5).

6. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 5, further comprising a housing (10) having a first and a second housing part (11, 12), wherein the first guide (6), the contact unit (7), the first restoring unit (8), the transmission unit (2), and the operating unit (5) are accommodated in the first housing part (11) and the second restoring unit (9) is accommodated in the second housing part (12).

7. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 6, wherein the second restoring unit (9) is configured as an elastic bellows (13) arranged between the operating unit (5) and the housing (10), wherein the elastic bellows (13) is configured as a compression spring unit.

8. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 6, wherein the second restoring unit (9) is configured as a seal between the operating unit (5) and the housing (10).

9. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second restoring unit (9) is configured as a labyrinth seal (14) arranged on the second housing part (12).

10. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first housing part (11) comprises at least one first stop (15) for the transmission unit (2) and the transmission unit comprises at least one second stop (27) for the operating unit (5).

11. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first stop (15) is configured as a radially fully encompassing stop (15).

12. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first housing part (11) comprises a second guide (39), wherein the transmission unit (2) is guided over the second guide (39) and the transmission unit (2) comprises a third guide (40), wherein the operating unit (5) is guided over the third guide (40).

13. The stepped stroke button (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit (16), wherein at least one of the operating unit (5) and the transmission unit (2) is configured as a light guide unit, wherein a maximum distance between the light guide unit to a light source is at most 10% greater than the contact stroke.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a first sectional view in an initial position of the stepped stroke button,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a second sectional view in an initial position of the stepped stroke button,

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a first sectional view in a second position of the stepped stroke button,

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a first sectional view in an actuated position of the stepped stroke button,

[0024] FIG. 5 shows an exploded drawing of the operating unit 5, the transmission unit 2 and the first housing part 11 as a partial section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a first sectional view in an initial position of the stepped stroke button 1, a contact unit 7 being mounted so as to be axially displaceable via a first guide 6 and being arranged at a distance from a circuit board 17. A first restoring unit 8 is arranged between the contact unit 7 and the circuit board 17. A transmission unit 2 is also arranged above the contact unit 7. The transmission unit 2 has a first end 3 and a second end 4, the first end 3 comprising a polygonal hollow body and the second end 4 having a cylindrical shape. The shaped bodies of the first and second ends 3, 4 are arranged coaxially to one another. The transmission unit 2 comprises a hollow body-shaped frame 18 in the same direction of extent as the second end 4, the wall thickness of the frame 18 being significantly increased, particularly at least doubled, in a sub-region 19. This sub-region 19 also has a greater axial length, particularly the sub-region 19 is at least 1.5 times as long as the frame 18 and is configured to be eccentric. The sub-region 19 is spaced apart from a display unit 16 in an initial position. The display unit 16 is arranged adjacent to the first guide 6 on the circuit board 17. An operating unit 5 is arranged above the transmission unit 2. This also has a polygonal hollow body closed on one side. An open end face 22 of the operating unit 5 is formed parallel to a stop face 23 formed orthogonally to the first end 3 and is arranged at a distance therefrom. The first end 3 is also arranged at a distance from an inner end face 24 of the operating unit 5.

[0026] The first guide 6, the contact unit 7, the first restoring unit 8, the transmission unit 2 and the operating unit 5 are at least partially accommodated in a first housing part 11. The first housing part 11 has a shape, particularly adapted to the outer contours of the transmission unit 2 and the operating unit 5, an outer surface 25 of the frame 18 being formed at a distance from a housing part inner surface 26. The stop surface 23 is in contact with a first stop 15, the first stop 15 being configured as a surface of the first housing part 11 running parallel to the stop surface 23 and limiting the upward axial movement of the transmission unit 2. A tapering region 28 of the first housing part 11 is formed above the first stop 15, the operating unit 5 being arranged within the tapering region 28. An edge 33 is formed on an outer end face 32 of the operating unit 5, which edge 33 is formed particularly from an elastic rubber. A first end of a second restoring unit 9 is arranged between the operating unit 5 and the edge 33. The second restoring unit 9 is also formed from an elastic material as an elastic bellows 13.

[0027] The second restoring unit 9 is arranged at its second end opposite the first end between the first housing part 11 and a second housing part 12, the second restoring unit 9, encompassing the second housing part 12, being configured in an L-shape, and comprising a substantially triangular web 34 touching a housing part top side 27. The first and second housing parts 11, 12 form the housing 10 of the stepped stroke button 1. In addition, a long leg 29 of the Ls is formed with a plurality of elevations and depressions through which a labyrinth seal 14 is implemented. The design of the Ls, the labyrinth seal 14 and the web 34 all serve to reliably seal an inner housing space 35 from external influences. In the shown example, each of the transmission unit 2, the operating unit 5, the contact unit 7, the first restoring unit 8, and the second restoring unit 9 is formed as a monolithic parts, but it is within the scope of the present invention that any of these units may be assembled from several parts affixed to each other to form the respective unit.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a second sectional view in an initial position of the stepped stroke button 1, the second sectional view being oriented orthogonally to the first sectional view. The transmission unit 2, at its first end 3, comprises two jump-shaped lugs 20 arranged opposite one another and mirrored in a movement axis. A second bevel 37 of the jump shape of the lugs 20 is directed upwards in each case. The lugs 20 are configured as a third stop 30 for the operating unit 5, the two lugs 20 each being arranged in one of two opposing openings 31 of the operating unit 5. The lugs 20 are in contact with the operating unit 5 and limit the upward axial displacement of the operating unit 5. In addition, the first housing part 11 is configured trapezoidal within the tapering region 28. The open end face 22 comprises two bevels tapering towards one another, a first bevel 36 being formed in each case parallel to the second bevel 37 of the lug 20.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a first sectional view in an intermediate position of the stepped stroke button 1 during its actuation, the operating unit 5 being moved by an axial force F in the direction of the transmission unit 2, so that the stop surface 23 is in contact with the open end face 22. The first end 3 is furthermore arranged at a distance from the inner end face 24. The second restoring unit 9 is elastically deformed by the axial movement of the operating unit 5 and has a second counterforce F.sub.G2 directed against the axial force F and acting directly on the operating unit 5. The transmission unit 2 and the contact unit 7 are immobile in comparison to the illustration in FIG. 1, which forms a free travel of the operating unit 5.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a first sectional view in an actuated position of the stepped stroke button 1, the axial force F acting on the contact unit 7 via the operating unit 5 and the transmission unit 2 and comprising a substantially triangular web 34 and this being moved such that it is indirectly in contact with the circuit board 17, particularly via the first restoring unit 8. The operating unit 5, the transmission unit 2 and the contact unit 7 move simultaneously within the intermediate position and the actuated position of the stepped stroke button 1. The elastic bellows 13 is maximally deformed and accordingly has its maximal second counterforce F.sub.G2 to the axial force F. The first restoring unit 8, which is configured as a sheet metal spring, also has a maximum first counterforce F.sub.G1 to the axial force F in this position. The distance between the sub-region 19 and the display unit 16 is reduced compared to that in an initial or intermediate position. In this embodiment, the transmission unit 2 is configured as a light guide unit, which guides the light emitted by the display unit 16 to the operating unit 5. Due to the ratio of the operating stroke O to the contact stroke C (illustrated in FIG. 1), the distance between the display unit 16 and the sub-region 19 is effectively shortened in all positions, so that the emitted light can be admitted into the light guide unit over a short distance and accordingly a reduction in losses, for example, through scattering, is advantageously implemented. For example, the maximum distance between the display unit 16 and the sub-region 19 may be no greater than 110% of the length of the contact stroke.

[0031] According to the invention, the operating unit 5 comprises a fully or partially transparent material, the emitted light guided through the light guide unit being recognizable for an operator through the operating unit 5. According to the invention, a label 38 is arranged on the operating unit 5, the label 38 being opaque. In a restoration, both the first and the second restoring unit 8, 9 act on the operating unit 5 between the actuated position and the intermediate position. Only the second restoring unit 9 acts on the operating unit 5 between the intermediate position and the initial position, since an upward directed movement of the transmission unit 2 and the contact unit 7 is limited by the first stop 15.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows an exploded drawing of the operating unit 5, the transmission unit 2 and the first housing part 11 as a partial section. The first housing part 11 comprises a second guide 39, the second guide 39 being configured in the form of vertically running ribs, two ribs per side surface being formed on the housing part inner surface 26, which ribs are in contact with the frame 18 in an assembled position. The transmission unit 2 comprises a third guide 40, the third guide 40 being configured in the form of vertically running ribs, a respective rib being formed in each outer edge 41 of the transmission unit 2, which rib, in an assembled position, is in contact with an inner operating unit circumferential surface 21. The operating unit 5 is assembled from above into the first housing part 11, the first and second bevels 36, 37 facing each other prior to assembly. In an opening region 42, the operating unit 5 comprises two perpendicular through grooves 43, which creates elasticity in the opening regions 42 arranged opposite one another. During assembly, the opening region 42 is pressed from above onto the lug 20, the first and second bevels 36, 37 being arranged in contact with one another and influencing the direction of the force such that a resulting transverse force reversibly deforms the opening regions 42 of the operating unit 5 outwards, so that one lug 20 each slides into an opening 31 and the opening region 42 then returns to its original arrangement.

[0033] The tapering region 28 is advantageously formed partially trapezoidal in order to provide space to the reversible deformation of the opening region 42 during assembly. When the assembly is completed, the operating unit 5 is limited in its axial freedom of movement by a form fit, particularly by a snap-hook connection to the transmission unit 2. Further reasons for the formation of the first and second bevels 36, 37 are the approximation of the structural shape to the force profile in this region during a load as well as the necessary draft angles for reliable demolding of molded parts from a tool. Draft angles are particularly relevant when manufacturing molded parts by injection molding processes. The transmission unit 2 is assembled in the first housing part 11 from below.

[0034] While the above description pertains to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0035] 1 stepped stroke button [0036] 2 transmission unit [0037] 3 first end [0038] 4 second end [0039] 5 operating unit [0040] 6 first guide [0041] 7 contact unit [0042] 8 first restoring unit [0043] 9 second restoring unit [0044] 10 housing [0045] 11 first housing part [0046] 12 second housing part [0047] 13 elastic bellows [0048] 14 labyrinth seal [0049] 15 first stop [0050] 16 display unit [0051] 17 circuit board [0052] 18 frame [0053] 19 sub-region [0054] 20 lug [0055] 21 inner operating unit circumferential surface [0056] 22 open end face [0057] 23 stop surface [0058] 24 inner end face [0059] 25 outer surface [0060] 26 housing part inner surface [0061] 27 housing part top side [0062] 28 tapering region [0063] 29 long leg [0064] 30 third stop [0065] 31 opening [0066] 32 outer end face [0067] 33 edge [0068] 34 web [0069] 35 housing space [0070] 36 first bevel [0071] 37 second bevel [0072] 38 label [0073] 39 second guide [0074] 40 third guide [0075] 41 outer edge [0076] 42 opening region [0077] 43 through grooves [0078] FG1 first counterforce [0079] FG2 second counterforce [0080] F axial force [0081] O operating stroke [0082] C contact stroke