CN101133470A - On/off switching systems and appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes an on/off switching system (1) with a rocker switch and a push button (2), which is formed separately from the rocker switch and which is elastically guided and configured to act On the switching rocker arm (6) of the rocker switch for on and off operation, and it is in the same position in the on state and in the off state.

Description

On/off switching systems and appliances

The present invention relates to an on/off switch system and an electrical appliance, in particular a kettle, having a suitable on/off switch system.

In recent years two different concepts have been established for switching on and off household appliances such as coffee makers, kettles, egg makers, washing machines, ovens and the like. On the one hand, a mechanical rocker switch is used, and it can be seen from the position of the rocker whether the household appliance equipped with the switch is turned on or off. On the other hand, electronic switches have proven to be advantageous, in which the switch button itself is in the same position both in the on state and in the off state; Based on mechanical principles but mainly by applying suitable electronic means.

In addition to the advantage of automatically indicating whether the relevant domestic appliance is switched on or off, a mechanical rocker switch also has the advantage of being simple and cost-effective in terms of its technical implementation. Furthermore, they have been proven to be effective millions of times in the past, so rocker switches currently available on the market can operate very reliably and virtually years without failure. Another advantage is that off-the-shelf rocker switches that are essentially standardized and matched to a variety of different appliances and applications are available on the market, so home appliance manufacturers themselves do not need to develop new rocker switches for each application.

In contrast, electronic switches have the advantage that they can be implemented in a small space and that they enable an easy-to-clean and aesthetically pleasing design. Because the button of the electronic switch can be designed almost flush with the surrounding housing surface independently of the switching state. This generally makes the corresponding appliance easy to use.

It is an object of the present invention to propose an alternative on/off switching system which can be manufactured inexpensively, is reliable and is simple to operate.

This object is achieved by an on/off switch system as claimed in claim 1 . Advantageous and effective refinements of the invention are defined in the subclaims.

According to the present invention, the on/off switch system has a rocker switch and a button formed separately therefrom. In particular, the rocker switch and button are not made together in one piece. The button is elastically guided and configured such that it acts on the toggle rocker of the rocker switch for the on and off operation and it assumes the same position (start position) in the on state and in the off state . In particular, the button is elastically guided and configured such that it acts on the switching rocker of the rocker switch when it is actuated, so that the rocker switch or the on/off switching system is switched and thereby, for example, the included The on/off switching system switches the electrical appliances on or off.

Within the scope of the present invention, the term "button" includes any type of operating surface. Preferably, the button acts on the switching rocker at least partially indirectly, in particular via a pressure lever, a release lug and/or a release lever. Depending on the design, the pressure lever, the release lug and/or the disconnect lever together with the button can form an operating element which can be elastically guided and configured to act on the switching rocker arm of the rocker switch for switching on and off operation and is in the same position in the on state and in the off state.

Accordingly, the present invention is based on the idea of combining a proven rocker switch with a push button to form a total on/off switch system, whereby a mechanical rocker switch can be switched without the use of electronic switches. The advantages of switches are combined with the advantages of electronic switches.

The rocker switch is preferably a prefabricated rocker switch that does not require additional modification to fit the on/off switch system, but can also be used as an on/off switch in other appliances without modification. This has the advantage that a rocker switch can be used within the scope of the invention, which can also be used in large numbers for other purposes and can therefore be produced or procured correspondingly cheaply. The rocker switch includes a switching rocker, which is supported in particular in the middle of the switching rocker. This support preferably divides the switching rocker arm into two arms. The switching rocker preferably acts on two contact elements which are in contact with each other or are separated from each other, depending on the position of the switching rocker, ie a current can flow between the two contact elements depending on the position of the switching rocker flow or no current flow.

With the present invention, a proven and reliable rocker switch can be employed and the on/off switching system can also be integrated into the appliance, allowing easy operation of the on/off switching system and the appliance. Thus, when the on/off switch system is assembled into an appliance, the invention enables the upper portion of the button to be substantially flush with the surrounding housing surface of the appliance in both the on state and the off state. This enables a technically elegant design to be achieved.

The invention also enables the design of appliances that are easy to clean. Since the pushbutton is always only moved in a direction perpendicular to the housing surface and is not turned or pushed, the pushbutton can be integrated in the appliance housing so that it is only separated from the surface of the appliance housing by a limited narrow gap. Due to the possible flush design (see above), the appliance can be wiped unhindered in the switched-on and off-state, e.g. with a damp cleaning cloth, without bringing dirt into the appliance housing and in the opening between the on/off switching system.

Another advantage of the present invention is that, although the on/off switching system is only operated by a push action, there is no need for a continuous reset force on the rocker switch because the state, there is no actual interlock between the toggle rocker of the rocker switch and the button. This is particularly advantageous if the on/off switching system additionally has an automatic disconnection function which, when integrated into the kettle, can be implemented, for example, by a steam switch which opens when the water boils, Or by means of a lift-off switch which opens when the upper part of the kettle is lifted from the kettle base element. To implement the automatic disconnection function, e.g. by means of a steam switch or a lift-off switch (see below), enabling additional force to be applied to the switching rocker without a continuous return force of the button acting on the switching rocker . The invention thus achieves a decoupling between the button and the rocker switch. This decoupling enables an on/off switching system whose button is in the same position in the on state and in the off state and which can be combined with an automatic switch-off function Or an automatic disconnect function can be integrated in it. Preferably the rocker switch is part of the steam switch.

Preferably, for a first switching of the rocker switch, in particular switching on, the button acts on the first arm of the switching rocker via a pressure rod which is in particular fixedly connected to the button. Therefore in particular the button and the rocker switch are designed and arranged relative to each other so that when the button is operated the pressure rod connected to the button acts on the switch rocker to complete the on/off switch of the rocker switch The first type of switching of the system, and thus for example an appliance comprising an on/off switching system is switched on or off. This enables the invention to be reliably and easily put into practice.

An on/off switching system is preferably provided in which, by a first switching of the rocker switch, the second arm of the switching rocker acts on the trip lever, so that the trip lever is guided into the release position. At the same time, it is particularly preferred that the second arm of the switching rocker is articulated to the trip lever. This articulated connection, which is preferably formed at the end of the trip lever, encloses the cylindrical end of the switching rocker in a clip-like manner. The disconnect lever can be realized by any suitable connection element. The resulting on/off switching system is particularly reliable, durable and easy to use.

A particularly advantageous on/off switching system consists in that for the second switching of the rocker switch, in particular off, the push button acts on the release lug which is in particular fixedly connected to the push button on the release position. On the first end of the trip lever, the second end of the trip lever acts on the second arm of the switching rocker. In particular, the button and the release lug connected thereto are designed and arranged relative to the switching rocker and the disconnecting lever such that actuation of the button acts on the first end of the disconnecting lever in the release position, The second end of the disconnecting lever thus acts on the second arm of the switching rocker in such a way that the switching rocker, the rocker switch or the on/off switch system is switched and for example contains the on/off switch The electrical appliances of the system are thus switched on or off. Preferably, the first end of the disconnecting lever is designed as a release hook corresponding to the release lug, and/or the second end of the disconnecting lever is designed as an articulated connection with the second arm of the switching rocker as already described. clip-on part of the connection.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the on/off switching system, by means of a second switching of the rocker switch, the second arm of the switching rocker acts on the trip lever, causing the trip lever to be guided into the release Passive position in which the lug does not interact, in particular not directly, with the trip lever. In particular, therefore, the trip lever and the switching rocker are designed and arranged relative to each other in such a way that the second switching of the rocker switch causes the second arm of the switching rocker to act on the trip lever in such a way that the trip The open lever is guided into the passive position.

Preferably, in the on/off switch system, the push button is fixedly connected to the pressure rod and the release lug and a guide rod arranged between the pressure rod and the release lug. Preferably, a spring for elastically guiding the button is arranged around the guide rod. In particular, the button, the plunger and the release lug are formed from a one-piece part.

A preferred embodiment provides that a first switching of the switching rocker leads to switching on of the electric appliance comprising the on/off switching system, and a second switching of the switching rocker leads to switching off of the electric appliance.

Preferably, the button with the pressure lever, the release lug, the disconnecting lever and the switching rocker are designed and arranged relative to each other such that contact occurs between the button with the pressure lever and the switching rocker only during switching and between the button with the pressure lever and the switching rocker. Contact occurs between the release lug and the disconnect lever, not in the on state or in the off state. For example, when on, contact occurs between the button with the pressure lever and the switching rocker arm, and when off, contact occurs between the button with the release lug and the disconnect lever. Preferably, the button, together with the release lug, acts indirectly on the switching rocker when disconnected by the disconnecting lever.

All of the preferred embodiments described above enable the reliable and operationally easy implementation of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to propose an electric appliance, in particular a kettle, which can be manufactured at favorable costs, is reliable and is easy to operate.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 7 . Advantageous and effective developments are defined in the subclaims of this claim.

Accordingly, an electrical appliance according to the invention, in particular a kettle, is equipped with the inventive or correspondingly extended on/off switch system.

Preferably, in the case of a kettle, a steam switch is arranged below one of the arms of the switching rocker, in particular the first arm, which acts on the arm of the switching rocker during switching. For safety reasons it is necessary to have a steam switch in the kettle. It can be based, for example, on a suitably designed bimetallic element or another suitable sensor element, or can be such a suitably designed bimetallic element that folds up when a certain temperature is reached and thus acts on the switching rocker on the arm so that the rocker switch is toggled, especially off. The bimetal element can also be part of the steam switch, along with the rocker switch.

The invention now enables the steam switch to co-operate mechanically with the rocker switch of the on/off switch system, but the button of the on/off switch system can be in the same position in the on state and in the off state superior.

Preferably, the upper part of the button of the on/off switching system, that is, the outer side of the button arranged on the outer surface of the electrical appliance housing is designed to be substantially in contact with the surface of the electrical appliance housing surrounding the button in the on state and in the off state. flush.

According to a preferred embodiment, the upper part of the button is surrounded by an electroluminescent light ring. This technical teaching enables a self-explanatory, elegant and easy-to-clean visual signaling mechanism of the on-state and off-state of the kettle.

Preferably, such a kettle has a lift-off switch which is designed and acts on the arm of the switching rocker via a pressure lever in such a way that the switching rocker is switched automatically when the kettle is lifted from the kettle base element . Realization of such a lift-off switch with a pushbutton located in the same position in the on state and in the off state is only possible in combination with the on/off switch system according to the invention. Only in this way can the required disengagement between the button and the switching rocker (see above) be achieved. The lift disconnect switch enables the kettle to be disconnected automatically when the water container of the kettle is separated from the kettle base element, in particular lifted.

The scope of the invention naturally includes not only a kettle but also any electrical appliance, such as an electric egg cooker, an electric coffee maker, in which the on/off switch system according to the invention is integrated, especially in such a way that the button The surface is configured to be substantially flush with a surrounding housing surface of the appliance in the on state and the off state.

At the same time, in particular the above-described variant with a steam switch can also be advantageously used in other appliances in which a switching process is triggered when a certain steam temperature is reached, for example in an egg cooker. Likewise, the variant with a lift-off switch can also be advantageously used in other appliances having an upper part that can be removed from the base element of the appliance, for example an iron.

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings and by means of several exemplary embodiments. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the on/off switching system in the off state;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the on/off switching system during switching on;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the on/off switching system in the on state;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the on/off switching system during the opening process;

Figures 5 and 6 show two cross-sectional views of a kettle with a lift disconnect switch.

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the on/off switching system in the off state, that is to say in the switching position in which an electrical appliance comprising the on/off switching system, in this case e.g. It's the kettle, it's disconnected.

The figure shows an operating element, which is made in one piece and comprises a button 2 , a pressure lever 3 , a release lug 4 and a guide lever 8 . The release lug 4 is carried at a suitable distance from the button 2 by a carrier element which is likewise a component of the operating element. The guide rod 8 is arranged between the pressure rod 3 and the release lug 4 . The guide rod 8 has guide springs (not shown), which are aligned in the longitudinal direction and guided in corresponding guide grooves (not shown). The operating element can be moved by the user in this longitudinal or vertical direction. At this point, the operating element is elastically supported by a helical spring (not shown) arranged around the guide rod, so that the operating element is pushed back up again after each operation and automatically returns to the starting position shown in the figure. Location. In this starting position, in which the operating element is in the on state and the off state, the upper part of the button 2 is designed approximately flush with the housing surface 10 surrounding the button 2 .

A switching rocker 6 of the rocker switch with two arms 11 , 12 is pivotable about an axis of rotation and is connected to the trip lever 5 via a hinged connection. The articulated connection is made, for example, by having clamps 13 (only partially shown) at the lower end of the disconnecting lever 5 which surround the switching rocker arm 6 , in particular the correspondingly cylindrical end of the arm 11 . In FIG. 1 the release lever 5 is in a passive position in which the release lug 4 does not engage in the upper end of the release lever 5 when the actuating element is moved vertically downwards.

In the off state, the switching rocker 6 exerts a force on the lower part of the two contact elements 7 , keeping them apart and thus no current flows between the contact elements 7 . Appliances incorporating the on/off switching mechanism are therefore not powered and are therefore off.

Around the button 2 is formed a circumferential light ring 9 which gives a visual signal that the appliance is switched on or off.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the on/off switching system 1 shown in FIG. 1 during the switching-on process, wherein the switching rocker 6 or the rocker switch is switched. If the button 2 and thus the operating element is moved vertically downward together with the pressure rod 3 , the pressure rod 3 will exert a vertical force downward on the first arm 12 of the switching rocker 6 so that it is switched. The second arm 11 is thus moved upwards and thus exerts no force on the lower parts of the two contact elements 7 so that they contact each other due to a suitable pretension. Current flows between the two contact elements 7 . The on/off switch system 1 is in the on state and the appliance is switched on (see FIG. 3 ).

When the switch rocker arm 6 is switched, the disconnect lever 5 is brought from a passive position (see FIG. 1 in particular) to a release position, and the release lever 5 is pushed down together with the second arm 11 of the switch rocker arm 6 ( See FIG. 4 ), wherein in the passive position the release lug 4 does not engage into the upper end of the release lever 5 when the operating element is moved downwards, in which the release lug 4 does not engage when the operating element is moved downwards Engages into the upper end of the release lever 5 at the same time.

When the switching rocker arm 6 has been switched, the operating element is automatically moved vertically upwards back to the starting position by the aforementioned spring. At this moment, the upper end of the disconnecting lever 5 first slides towards the release lug 4 along the carrier element carrying the release lug 4 and finally engages beyond the release lug 4 into the release position, in which it abuts against the release lug 4. On the lower part of the carrier element (see Figure 3).

FIG. 3 shows a view of the on/off switching system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the switched-on state, ie in the switching position in which the electric appliance comprising the on/off switching system is switched on.

The operating element is again in the starting position together with button 2 . The contact elements 7 are in mutual contact, since the second arm 11 of the switching rocker 6 exerts no force on the lower contact element 7 .

As already mentioned, the disconnecting lever 5 is in the starting position, at this time the upper end of the disconnecting lever 5 abuts against the lower part of the carrier element carrying the release lug 4 .

FIG. 4 shows a view of the on/off switching system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 during a disconnection process, wherein the switching rocker 6 or the rocker switch is switched. If the button 2 and thus the operating element together with the release lug 4 are moved vertically downward, the release lug 4 engages in the upper end of the disconnecting lever 5 , which is configured to correspond to the release lug 4 . Among other things, this leads to a downward movement of the lower end of the trip lever 5 , which in turn causes a downward movement of the second arm 11 of the switching rocker arm 6 via the aforementioned hinged connection. In this way, the switching rocker arm 6 and thus the rocker switch are switched. This ultimately results in a downward force acting on the lower parts of the two contact elements 7, with the result that the contact elements 7 are separated from each other. The operating element is then automatically brought back into the starting position again by means of a spring. The switching rocker arm 6 remains in the switched state. The release lever 5 is again in the passive position. The on/off switching system is again in the starting position, which has already been described with reference to FIG. 1 .

Furthermore, below the arm 12 of the switching rocker arm 6 there is arranged a bimetallic element 13 on which the hot water vapor in the kettle flows via a steam channel 14 which is connected to the heating vessel of the kettle the upper end of. This bimetallic element 13 is an integral part of the steam switch or together with the rocker switch forms the steam switch available on the market, the bimetallic element is designed to fold up when a predetermined threshold temperature is reached and thus be placed on the rocker arm. In the ON state of the switch, a vertical force acting upwards on the left arm 12 of the switching rocker arm 6 is exerted. As a result, the rocker arm 6 is switched, ie the rocker switch and the on/off switch system are switched and thus the kettle is switched off.

Figures 5 and 6 show two cross-sectional views of a kettle 20 with an on/off switch system and an additional lift-off switch. In FIG. 5 , the water container part 21 of the kettle 20 is placed on the kettle base element 22 , whereas in the view shown in FIG. 6 the water container part 21 has been removed from the kettle base element 22 .

As shown in Figure 6, when the water container part 21 is not placed on the kettle base element 22, the rocker arm 23 of the lift type disconnect switch arranged in the bottom of the water container part 21 is passed by a spring (not shown) Pretensioned so that the left arm of the swing arm 23 protrudes from an opening in the bottom of the water container part 21 . In this position of the rocker arm 23, the right arm of the rocker arm 23 pushes the push rod 24 upwards, and the upper end of the push rod pushes the switch cap 25 connected to the switching rocker arm 6 and thus acts on the above-mentioned on/off The rocker switch of the switching system is switched on the arm 12 of the rocker 6 so that the above-mentioned contact elements 7 do not touch each other. In this case, the kettle 20 is disconnected anyway. Preferably, the push rod 24 acts on the same arm 12 of the switching rocker arm 6 from below as the push rod 3 of the push button 2 is actuated from above to manually switch on and off.

As shown in FIG. 5, if the water container part 21 is placed on the kettle base element 22, then the spring-pretensioned rocker arm 23 is turned or switched against the spring force, with the result that the push rod 24 is pulled downwards. As a result, the push rod 24 does not act on the switching rocker 6 arm 12 of the rocker switch. In this case, the on/off switch system is therefore independent of the lift-off switch and responds to the manual on and off operation of the push button 2 by the user as previously described.

The above example shows the advantageous situation in which the switching rocker arm 6 is disengaged from the button 2 in the on state and in the off state, in order to be able to ensure reliable operation of the lift-off switch and the steam switch. Because if the button 2 also exerts force on the switching rocker 6 in the on-state and the off-state, or even blocks said rocker arm in a switching state, then the operation of the safety-related automatic disconnection function is difficult. will be adversely affected.

Claims (11)

1. On/off switch system with rocker switch, characterized in that a button (2) is provided which is formed independently of the rocker switch and which is elastically guided and configured to act on The rocker switch toggles the rocker arm (6) for on and off operation, and it is in the same position in the on state and in the off state. 2. The on/off switch system according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the first switching of the rocker switch, the button (2) acts on the switching rocker arm (6) through the pressing rod (3) on the first arm (12). 3. The on/off switching system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with the first switching of the rocker switch, the second arm (11) of the switching rocker (6) acts on the breaker. on the opening lever (5), so that the breaking lever (5) is guided into the release position. 4. On/off switch system according to claim 3, characterized in that, for the second switching of the rocker switch, the button (2) acts via the release lug (4) on the switch in the release position. On the first end of the opening lever (5), the second end of the opening lever (5) acts on the second arm (11) of the switching rocker arm (6). 5. The on/off switch system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, through the second switching of the rocker switch, the second arm (11) of the switching rocker arm (6) acts on the disconnection on the lever (5), so that the disconnect lever (5) is guided into a passive position where the release lug (4) does not interact with the disconnect lever. 6. On/off switch system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the button (2) is fixedly connected to the pressing lever (3) and the release lug (4) and the guide lever (8) Above, the guide rod (8) is arranged between the pressing rod (3) and the release lug (4), and a spring for elastically guiding the button (2) is arranged around the guide rod (8). 7. Electric appliance, characterized by having an on/off switching system as claimed in one of the preceding claims. 8. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a kettle (20). 9. The appliance as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a steam switch is arranged below one arm (12) of the switching rocker arm, which acts on this arm (12) of the switching rocker arm during switching. 10. The electric appliance as claimed in one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the outside of the button (2) arranged on the outer surface of the housing of the electric appliance (20) is surrounded by an electroluminescent luminous ring. 11. The electrical appliance as claimed in one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that a lifting disconnect switch is designed and acts on the arm (12) of the switching rocker via the push rod (24) in this way, The switch rocker is automatically switched when an upper part (21) of the appliance is lifted from the base element (22) of the appliance.

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