ELECTRICAL MECHANISM

Abstract

Electrical mechanism, which has an axial axis in which are arranged: a rocking lever configured to adopt a first position and a second position of electrical connection or disconnection; a striker configured to engage with the rocking lever in the first position and in the second position (P.sub.2); an actuating device configured to transmit an actuation force to the striker so that the striker engages with the rocking lever and changes the position thereof; and a spring configured to disengage the striker from the rocking lever once the actuation force is released. Two contact points for transmitting the actuation force are established between the striker and the actuating device of the electrical mechanism.

Claims

1. An electrical mechanism, which comprises an axial axis (1.sub.Y) in which are arranged: a rocking lever configured to adopt a first position (P.sub.1) and a second position (P.sub.2) of electrical connection or disconnection; a striker disengaged from the rocking lever in a resting position, and configured to engage with the rocking lever in the first position (P.sub.1) and in the second position (P.sub.2); an actuating means configured to transmit an actuation force (F) to the striker so that said striker engages with the rocking lever and changes the position (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) thereof; and a spring configured to disengage the striker from the rocking lever once the actuation force (F) is released and return it to the resting position; said mechanism wherein two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) for transmitting the actuation force (F) are established between the striker and the actuating means in an initial working position, once the actuation force (F) is applied.

2. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) are arranged on an actuation plane (P) perpendicular to the axial axis (1.sub.Y).

3. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axial axis (1.sub.Y).

4. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) establish a distance (A) there between of 0.2 mm to 4 mm.

5. The electrical mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the distance (A) is from 0.4 mm to 1 mm.

6. The electrical mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the distance (A) is from 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm.

7. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the striker comprises a flat receiving area (Z.sub.3) configured to come in contact with the actuating means.

8. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, t wherein the striker comprises an upper part that has a substantially rectangular shape.

9. The electrical mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the upper part comprises two flanges that extend laterally in opposite directions with respect to said upper part to receive an upper end of the spring.

10. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, the striker comprises a lower part from which two lower extensions extend symmetrically, each one being configured to engage with a position (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) of the rocking lever.

11. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein actuating means comprises a transmission area (Z.sub.4) having two transmission points (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) configured to come in contact with the striker.

12. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means comprises a substantially semi-spherical or curved transmission part, partially divided by a central strip that extends over the surface of said transmission part.

13. The electrical mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the central strip defines a first curved edge and a second curved edge parallel to each other on the transmission part, one of the two transmission points (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) being established on each of said curved edges.

14. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means is joined to a flexible section, where said flexible section is in turn joined to a cover a rotation axis (.sub.4) of said actuating means.

15. The electrical mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a housing arranged between the rocking lever and the actuating means, configured to house the striker and the spring, and which has a lower border configured to receive a lower end of the spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] What follows is a very brief description of a series of drawings that aid in better understanding the invention, and which are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented by way of a non-limiting example of the same.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinally sectioned perspective view of the electrical mechanism of the present invention, in the resting position.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinally sectioned perspective view of the electrical mechanism of the present invention, in the initial working position.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the electrical mechanism of the present invention, in the initial working position.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the striker.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the striker.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a profile view of the striker.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the striker.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a bottom perspective view of the actuating means.

[0037] FIGS. 9a-9d show a sequence of the operation of the electrical mechanism of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] FIG. 1 shows the electrical mechanism (1) of the present invention in the resting position, before applying an actuation or pushing force (F) on a button (not shown) attached to the actuating means (4). In other embodiments, the button and the actuating means (4) can be integrated into the same part, or form part of an actuation assembly as separated parts thereof along with other elements. According to the present example, the electrical mechanism (1) constitutes an electrical switch.

[0039] As can be seen, said electrical mechanism (1) comprises an axial axis (1.sub.Y) in which the following components are arranged in an orderly manner: [0040] a rocking lever (2) that adopts a first position (P.sub.1) of electrical connection or disconnection, and which is attached to an electrical contact (7); [0041] a striker (3) configured to engage with the rocking lever (2) in the first position (P.sub.1); [0042] an actuating means (4) configured to transmit an actuation force (F) to the striker (3) so that said striker (3) engages with the rocking lever (2) and changes the same from the first position (P.sub.1) to a second position (P.sub.2); and [0043] a spring (5) configured to disengage the striker (3) from the rocking lever (2) once the actuation force (F) is released and return it to the initial resting position thereof.

[0044] As observed in FIG. 1, two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) for transmitting the actuation force (F) are established between the striker (3) and the actuating means (4).

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the electrical mechanism (1) of the present invention in the initial working position, once the actuation or pushing force (F) is applied and at the exact moment when the striker (3) engages with the rocking lever (5) in the first position (P.sub.1).

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view in which the situation shown in FIG. 2 is shown with greater clarity. As can be seen, the two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) allow the actuation force (F) to be centered on the striker (3) and, therefore, have greater parallelism with respect to the axial axis (1.sub.Y), forcing the striker (3) to move straight downward in the initial path until it engages with the rocking lever (2).

[0047] The two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) are arranged on an actuation plane (P) perpendicular to the axial axis (1.sub.Y), symmetrically with respect to said axial axis (1.sub.Y) and establishing a distance (A) therebetween.

[0048] The two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) establish a distance (A) therebetween of 0.2 mm to 4 mm. According to a preferred embodiment, the distance (A) between the contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) is from 0.4 mm to 1 mm, and more specifically, from 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm, in order to have a minimum effect on the pushing force (F) and on the feel of the mechanism (1).

[0049] FIG. 3 also shows in greater detail that the electrical mechanism (1) comprises a housing (6) arranged between the rocking lever (2) and the actuating means (4), configured to house the striker (3) and the spring (5), and which has a lower border (61) configured to receive a lower end (52) of the spring (5).

[0050] FIGS. 4-7 shows different views of the striker (3). As can be seen, to establish the two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) between the striker (3) and the actuating means (4), the striker (3) comprises a flat receiving area (Z.sub.3) configured to come in contact with the actuating means (4). Said receiving area (Z.sub.3) determines the actuation plane (P).

[0051] The striker (3) comprises an upper part (31) that has a substantially rectangular shape (31c). In turn, the upper part (31) comprises two flanges (31a, 31b) that extend laterally in opposite directions with respect to said upper part (31) to receive an upper end (51) of the spring (5) FIG. 3.

[0052] Likewise, the striker (3) comprises a lower part (32) from which two lower extensions (32a, 32b) extend symmetrically, each one being configured to engage with a position (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) of the rocking lever (2).

[0053] According to the present example, the striker (3) comprises an intermediate prismatic or cylindrical part (33) between the upper part (31) and the lower part (32) that is hollow on the inside.

[0054] FIG. 8 shows a bottom perspective view of the actuating means (4). As can be seen, to establish the two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) between the striker (3) and the actuating means (4), said actuating means (4) comprises a transmission area (Z.sub.4) having two transmission points (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) configured to come in contact with the striker (3).

[0055] The actuating means (4) comprises a substantially semi-spherical or curved transmission part (41), partially divided by a central strip (42) that extends over the surface of said transmission part (41).

[0056] The central strip (42) defines a first curved edge (421) and a second curved edge (422) parallel to each other on the transmission part (41), one of the two transmission points (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) being established on each of said curved edges (421, 422).

[0057] According to the present preferred embodiment, the two transmission points (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) located on the edges (421, 422) of the central strip (42) coincide with the tangential points between said edges (421, 422) and the flat receiving area (Z.sub.3) of the striker (3).

[0058] The actuating means (4) is joined to a flexible section (43), where said flexible section (43) is in turn joined to a cover (44) defining a rotation axis (.sub.4) of said actuating means (4).

[0059] FIGS. 9a-9d show a sequence of the operation of the electrical mechanism (1) of the present invention.

[0060] Specifically, FIG. 9a shows the electrical mechanism (1) in the resting position shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, the rocking lever (2) is in the first position (P.sub.1) disengaged from the striker (3).

[0061] FIG. 9b shows the electrical mechanism (1) in the initial working position corresponding to FIG. 2, in other words, once the actuation or pushing force (F) is applied and at the exact moment when the striker (3) engages with the rocking lever (2) in the first position (P.sub.1). The two contact points (C.sub.1, C.sub.2) allow the actuation force (F) to be centered on the striker (3) and, therefore have greater parallelism with respect to the axial axis (1.sub.Y), forcing the striker (3) to move straight downward in the initial path until it engages with the rocking lever (2). This therefore prevents incorrect or inadequate engagement between the striker (3) and the rocking lever (2).

[0062] FIG. 9c shows the electrical mechanism (1) in the final working position, in which the actuation or pushing force (F) exerted on the striker (3) forces the rocking lever (2) to rotate so that it changes from the first position (P.sub.1) to the second position (P.sub.2). The position change (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) of the rocking lever (2) in turn causes the position change of an electrical contact (7) attached thereto, which causes the connection or disconnection of an electrical circuit. A second spring (8) connected to the electrical contact (7) and to the rocking lever (2) keeps the rocking lever (2) stable in each of the positions thereof (P.sub.1, P.sub.2), ensuring the correct connection or disconnection of the electrical circuit.

[0063] FIG. 9c also shows that the narrowness of the upper part (31) of the striker (3), due to the substantially rectangular shape (31c) thereof, allows space to be gained for the rotation of said striker (3) during its return to the resting position by the action exerted by the spring (5) after changing the position (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) of the rocking lever (2). This enables a smaller housing (6) to be made.

[0064] FIG. 9d shows the electrical mechanism (1) once again in the resting position, with the striker (3) ready to engage with the rocking lever (2) in the second position (P.sub.2), repeating the process described above.