ILLUMINATED PUSHBUTTION SWITCH

Abstract

An illuminated pushbutton switch is provided. The pushbutton switch includes a case, a button assembly received in the case, and a switch contact assembly disposed in the case. The button assembly includes a button part, a first spring against a center of the button part, a waterproof jacket assembled in the button part, and a frame fixed on the button part. The switch contact assembly includes a switch frame, a plurality of second springs against a bottom side of the switch frame, a contact sheet against the plurality of second springs, a rivet penetrating the contact sheet and the switch frame, a plurality of contacts disposed at an interval from the contact sheet, a plurality of pins used for fixing the contacts, and a bottom case receiving the pins.

Claims

1. An illuminated pushbutton switch, comprising: a case; a button assembly received in the case, wherein the button assembly includes a button part, a first spring against a center of the button part, a waterproof jacket assembled in the button part, and a frame fixed on the button part; a switch contact assembly disposed in the case, wherein the switch contact assembly includes a switch frame fixed to the frame, a plurality of second springs against a bottom side of the switch frame, a contact sheet against the plurality of second springs, a rivet penetrating the contact sheet and the switch frame, a plurality of contacts disposed at an interval from the contact sheet, a plurality of pins used for fixing the contacts, and a bottom case receiving the pins; and a LED assembly disposed between the button assembly and the switch contact assembly and having a LED light, a light frame for assembling the LED light, and a pair of light pins electrically connected to the LED light and respectively disposed on two sides of the light frame, wherein the light frame is fixed in position above the switch frame, and the first spring surrounds a part of the light frame.

2. The metal button switch of claim 1, wherein an external side of the case has threads, a hexagonal nut threadedly engages the threads, and an O-ring is disposed in a slit between the hexagonal nut and the button part.

3. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 1, wherein the button part includes a metal sleeve cover, an upper cover disposed in the metal sleeve cover, and a sheet received in the upper cover.

4. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 1, wherein the button part includes a metal ring disposed on an inner edge of the case.

5-8. (canceled)

9. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 7, further comprising a jumper board disposed in the switch contact assembly and through which one of the plurality of pins and one of the pair of light pins pass.

10. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 1, wherein the frame includes bumps disposed on an inner side thereof and the switch frame includes trenches for correspondingly receiving the bumps therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is an overall decomposition diagram of an embodiment of this invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial decomposition diagram of an embodiment of this invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an appearance diagram of a button switch according to one embodiment of this invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a first operation diagram of an embodiment of this invention.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a second operation diagram of an embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The purposes and advantages of the structural functions of this invention are illustrated according to the structures shown in the figures and embodiments, so that the Examiner can understand this invention more deeply and specifically.

[0024] Please refer to FIGS. 1-4. In this invention, a metal button switch comprises a case 1, threads 11 is set on the outer surface of the case 1, and a hexagonal nut 12 is set to correspond to the threads 11. The case 1 can be fixed in a panel of an electronic device.

[0025] The metal button switch further comprises a button assembly 2 received in the case 1. The button assembly 2 comprises a button part 21, a first spring 22 against the center of the button part 21, a waterproof jacket 23 assembled in the button part 21, a metal sheet 24 disposed on a ladder edge 13 of the case 1, and a frame 25 fixed on the button part 21. The waterproof jacket 23 and an O-ring 14 are used to prevent the liquid outside from flowing into the slit of the button part 21. The water is prevented from flowing into the button switch from the slit thereof. In addition, the button part 21 further comprises a metal sleeve cover 211, an upper cover 212 disposed in the metal sleeve cover 211, and a sheet 213. The upper cover 212 is fixed by the frame 25.

[0026] The metal button switch further comprises a switch contact assembly 3 disposed in the case 1. The switch contact assembly 3 comprises a switch frame 31 against another end of the first spring 22, a contact sheet 33 against multiple second springs 32, a rivet 34 penetrating the contact sheet 33 and the switch frame 31, multiple contacts 35 disposed at an interval from the contact sheet 33, multiple pins 36 used for fixing the contacts 35, and a bottom case 37 vertically receiving the pins 36. Trenches 311 of the switch frame 31 is correspondingly disposed to receive bumps 251 disposed on the inner sides of the frame 25, and a self-locking hook 38 is optionally disposed on a hook trench. The self-locking hook 38 can fix or release the switch frame 31, so that the button part 21 can be fixed or rebounded.

[0027] A LED assembly 4 may be further disposed between the button assembly 2 and the switch contact assembly 3. The LED assembly 4 comprises a LED light 41, a light frame 42 for disposing the LED light 41, and light pins 43 disposed on two sides of the light frame 42. When the LED assembly 4 is actually installed in the button switch, the first spring 22 will surround a part of the LED light 41. The light frame 42 is disposed against the switch frame 31 and fixed in the bottom case 37. The light pins 43 extend to the bottom case 37 along the outer shape of the lamp frame 42, and are received by the bottom case 37. In addition, a jumper board 39 may be further disposed in the switch contact assembly 3 though which the pins 36 and the light pins 43 pass.

[0028] Moreover, the actual applicable range of this invention may be illustrated by the embodiments below, but is not limited thereto in any forms.

[0029] Please refer to FIGS. 1-4, in the structure of the metal button switch of this invention, the areas of the contacts 35 and the pins 36 of the switch contact assembly 3 are enlarged. Therefore, the carried current thereof is increased to about 20 A. The case 1 can maintain the original size thereof, although the areas of the contacts 35 and the pins 36 are enlarged. Only the width of the through holes of the bottom case 37 for receiving the pins 36 needs to be enlarged. When the metal button switch is used in a circuit, no other electronic components are needed to assist the control of devices with high rated current.

[0030] Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5, which show the actual operation of the metal button switch according to an embodiment of this invention. First, the metal sleeve cover 211, the upper cover 212, and the sheet 213 of the button part 21 are assembled in the case 1. A user may press down the sheet 213. At this time, the sheet 213 and the upper cover 212 will directly extrude the frame 25 and the first spring 22, and the light frame 42 of the LED assembly 4 will drive the switch frame 31 to move downward after extruded by the frame 25 and the first spring 22. Since the bumps 251 of the frame 25 is fixed in the trenches 311 of the switch frame 31, the movement of the switch frame 31 is limited in the vertical direction. When the switch frame 31 is declined, the self-locking hook 38 is just hung on the hook trench of the switch frame 31 to fix the position of the switch frame 31. Subsequently, the second springs 32 will be extruded by the movement of the switch frame 31, and the contact sheet 33 will be pushed to move by the applied force of the second springs 32. After moving a distance, the contact sheet 33 will touch the contacts 35 disposed on the pins 36, so that the connected electronic device can be operated. Since there are multiple second springs 32, the structural stability of the button switch can be increased. Moreover, the heat dissipation effect can be increased when the button switch is applied on a large-current device.

[0031] If the jumper board 39 and the LED assembly 4 are installed in the switch contact assembly 3, the LED light 41 of the LED assembly 4 will be lighted up when the button part 21 is pressed down. The light of the LED light 41 may shine on the translucent upper cover 212, so that the periphery of the sheet 213 will reveal a circle of light. Therefore, the user can know that the button switch is on, and the electricity is circulated. If no jumper board 39 in the switch contact assembly 3, the LED light 41 will always be lighted up. Hence, the jumper board 39 is optionally installed, according to the choice and need of the user. The light frame 42 of the LED assembly 4 and the switch 31 are fixed to each other, such that the light frame 42 also can limit the moving position of the switch frame 31. Hence, the switch frame 31 will not shift left and right in the path of the pressing down.

[0032] Furthermore, since the self-licking hook 38 can fix the switch frame 31, the first spring 22 of the button part 22 will not rebound, and the button assembly 2 is kept in the pressed state, as shown in FIG. 5. The pressed state also means that the button switch is turned on. When the user presses again, the self-locking hook 38 will be released from the hook trench of the switch frame 31, and the first spring 22 will rebound to restore the button assembly 2 back to the original state.

[0033] According to the illustration of the embodiments, it can be known that this invention has the following advantages, comparing with the prior arts:

[0034] 1. In this invention, contacts and pins with large areas can be installed in the metal button switch without increasing the volume of the metal button switch. Therefore, the button switch can withstand more current and can be applied on electronic devices with high rated current, from automatic ticket pick-up machine in parking lots to motor equipment on board. Comparing with the prior arts, the volumes of the cases of the conventional button switches have to be increased if contacts and pins with large areas are to be used. This invention can avoid the drawbacks of increasing volumes of the conventional button switch or needing additional electronic devices to control the large current resulting in the increased volume of the circuits.

[0035] 2. In this invention, a waterproof jacket and an O-ring are installed in the metal button switch to block the outside liquid from flowing into the inside of the button switch to damage the inside structure of the button switch. Therefore, the button switch can be used outdoors and is not easily affected by rain or wet environment.