EP1672657B1 - Device having a monostable and a bistable configuration - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the general field of electrical devices comprising in a housing a pusher adapted to take an extended position and a retracted position.

It relates more particularly to such a device whose pusher can be made monostable or bistable thanks to a selector. When this selector occupies indeed a first position, the pusher is bistable, that is to say, it remains in its retracted position following a first pressure and it is necessary to exert a second pressure for that it returns to its deployed position (operation switch). On the other hand, when the selector occupies a second position, the pusher is monostable, that is to say it returns to its initial position and operates by simple pressure (operation "push-button").

This type of electrical apparatus having two modes of operation can be used for functions such as switch, switch, controller, and generally in any application for which it may be advantageous to have a device that can be monostable or bistable depending on the circumstances.

Such an electrical apparatus of the document is known FR 2,718,566 comprising a pusher movably mounted between two positions, one deployed, the other retracted, this pusher being subjected to resilient return means constantly urging towards its deployed position. The selection between the monostable and bistable behaviors of the apparatus is carried out by means of a selector formed of a disk rotatably mounted in the housing of the apparatus and comprising a device of the "core cam" type as well as a groove.

The rotation of the selector makes it possible to arrange selectively in front of a pin connected to the pusher is the device "cam heart" making the device bistable or the groove making the device monostable.

Document is also known FR 2,813,990 an electrical apparatus comprising a pusher connected to hooking means cooperating with an elastic tab integral with a movable selector in translation.

Depending on the position occupied by the selector, the elastic tab or not cooperates with the attachment means, thus making the device respectively bistable or monostable.

The object of the invention is to improve this type of electrical apparatus.

• un poussoir adapté à prendre une position déployée et une position rétractée ;
• un mécanisme d'accrochage, avec lequel coopère le poussoir, présentant un sélecteur qui est accessible de l'extérieur du boîtier et qui est adapté à prendre une première position correspondant à une configuration bistable de l'appareil dans laquelle le poussoir est alternativement maintenu dans sa position rétractée et dans sa position déployée, et une deuxième position correspondant à une configuration monostable de l'appareil dans laquelle le poussoir peut se débattre librement entre ses positions déployée et rétractée ;

ledit mécanisme d'accrochage comportant un ergot relié au poussoir et coopérant, lorsque le sélecteur est dans sa première position, avec un chemin de came formé autour d'un îlot saillant muni d'une gorge de capture de sorte que, lorsque le poussoir est sollicité de sa position déployée à sa position rétractée, l'ergot passe d'une position de départ à une position de capture, dans laquelle l'ergot est dans la gorge de capture, par un tronçon d'aller du chemin de came et, lorsque le poussoir est par la suite sollicité pour revenir à sa position déployée, l'ergot passe de sa position de capture à sa position de départ par un tronçon de retour du chemin de came, distinct du tronçon d'aller ;
cet appareil étant caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme d'accrochage comporte des moyens de déplacement de l'ergot alors que le poussoir est dans sa position déployée, entre ladite position de départ et une position initiale décalée de sorte que, lorsque le sélecteur est dans sa deuxième position, l'ergot emprunte ledit tronçon de retour du chemin de came.For this purpose, the invention relates to an electrical apparatus comprising in a housing:

• a pusher adapted to assume an extended position and a retracted position;
• a hooking mechanism, with which the pusher cooperates, having a selector which is accessible from outside the housing and which is adapted to take a first position corresponding to a bistable configuration of the apparatus in which the pusher is alternately maintained in its retracted position and in its deployed position, and a second position corresponding to a monostable configuration of the apparatus in which the pusher can freely move between its deployed and retracted positions;

said hooking mechanism having a lug connected to the pusher and cooperating, when the selector is in its first position, with a cam path formed around a projecting island provided with a capture groove so that when the pusher is biased from its deployed position to its retracted position, the spigot moves from a starting position to a catching position, in which the spigot is in the catch groove, by a forward section of the cam path and, when the pusher is subsequently urged to return to its deployed position, the lug goes from its capture position to its starting position by a return section of the cam path, distinct from the section to go;
this apparatus being characterized in that the attachment mechanism comprises means for moving the pin while the pusher is in its deployed position, between said starting position and an initial position shifted so that when the selector is in its second position, the lug borrows said return section of the cam path.

Such an electrical apparatus therefore comprises a hooking mechanism whose operation is based on the cooperation of a pin with a cam path formed around a projecting island which is provided with a capture groove. This type of attachment mechanism is well known and is used for its qualities of reliability and robustness.

The invention allows such a hooking mechanism to ensure only the monostable and bistable configuration of the electrical apparatus, through the selector that allows, when the pusher is in its deployed position, to position the pin is in the starting position, either in the initial position shifted so that it respectively borrows either the forward section of the cam path or the return section of the cam path.

Such an electrical apparatus is therefore simple to implement since it does not involve an external part of the attachment mechanism to provide monostable and bistable functions.

The invention thus provides a gain in terms of manufacturing cost as well as in terms of robustness insofar as few additional parts are moving relative to a conventional device with cam path around a projecting island provided with a capture throat.

Furthermore, the attachment mechanism of such an electrical device is protected against blocking, since the pin connected to the pusher never leaves the cam path, the selector is in one of its positions or in the other, and even when the selector and the pusher are operated simultaneously.

According to a preferred characteristic, said starting position is located in the forward section of the cam path and in that said initial offset position is located in the return section of the cam path. When the pusher is biased from its deployed position to its retracted position, the lug is forced to take the section to go if the selector is in its first position, and is forced to take the return section if the selector is in his second position.

The projecting island may have a tip opposite its capture groove, the starting position and the offset initial position being located on either side of said tip which then allows a clear separation of the sections to go and back.

According to another preferred feature, the apparatus comprises a housing adapted to receive the lug when the pusher is in its extended position, said displacement means being adapted to act on the position of said housing.

The selector may further comprise a rotating part having said housing, the rotation of said part causing the displacement of the housing.

Said rotating part can be inserted in a circular guide housing, which allows a simple and robust construction.

The selector may then comprise a lever provided at one of its ends with a handle and at the other end of said rotating part.

Said handle may advantageously be adapted to move along a concentric curved groove to the circular guide housing.

According to another preferred feature, the cam path is defined between the projecting island and a set formed by the rotating part and a chamber surrounding said projecting island, which keeps the pin around the projecting island and to prevent any risk of blockage of the mechanism.

For better support, the attachment mechanism can be fixed on the inner face of a wall of the housing.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil électrique selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle de la face interne d'une paroi latérale de l'appareil de la figure 1, cette paroi étant celle portant le mécanisme d'accrochage qui est ici dans sa configuration bistable ; et
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, le mécanisme d'accrochage étant ici dans sa configuration monostable.

Other features and advantages of the invention appear in the light of the description which follows of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical apparatus according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a partial view of the inner side of a side wall of the device of the figure 1 this wall being the one carrying the attachment mechanism which is here in its bistable configuration; and
• the figure 3 is a view similar to the figure 2 , the attachment mechanism being here in its monostable configuration.

The perspective view of the figure 1 shows an electrical apparatus 1 which is in the present modular example, that is to say that its housing is in a generally flat shape and whose thickness is multiple of a specific module, which allows the device to be placed side by side on the same support with other modular electrical devices of the same format.

The electrical apparatus 1 is here a switch that can be monostable or bistable according to the wishes of the user.

This electrical apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2 which is projecting a pusher 3 for actuating the switch, and a selector 4 movable along a curved groove 5 and accessible to the user from outside the housing 2 .

The pusher 3 is movable in translation relative to the housing 2. It is adapted to take a first deployed position (that shown in FIG. figure 1 ) and a retracted position, especially when the pusher 3 is depressed by a user. It is in this retracted position that the apparatus 1 performs its function as a switch, or any other function for which it can be provided, while elastic return means such as a spring (not shown) are arranged at inside the housing to permanently urge the pusher 3 to its deployed position.

When the selector 4 is in one of its extreme positions, the apparatus 1 is monostable, that is to say that the pusher 3 can be depressed from its extended position to its retracted position and remains in the latter position that as the user maintains the pressure on the pusher 3. As soon as the pressure is released, the pusher 3 returns to its deployed position under the effect of the internal spring.

When the selector 4 is in its other extreme position, the apparatus 1 is bistable. The pusher 3, when pressed by the user, remains in its retracted position by means of a hooking mechanism described below. The apparatus 1 thus provides the switch function of the present example permanently after releasing the pressure on the pusher 3. To stop the exercise of this function, the pusher 3 can be returned to its deployed position by a new pressure of the user on the pusher 3 which, releasing the attachment means, allows him, under the effect of resilient return means, to return to its deployed position.

The selector 4 allows the user to choose, before or after installation, the operating mode of the device 1 ensuring the function he has chosen.

The attachment mechanism, which allows in particular the pusher 3 to be held in the retracted position, will now be described with reference to the Figures 2 and 3 .

The Figures 2 and 3 represent, for two different positions of the selector 4, the inner face of the wall 7 of the housing 2 on which is fixed the selector 4. A double arrow 8 materializes in these figures the sliding direction of the pusher 3. The latter has been shown schematically in the position it occupies with respect to the attachment mechanism 9 within the device 1. The cooperation of the pusher 3 with the attachment mechanism 9 is ensured by means of a bead wire 6 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. dotted line). The pusher 3 also has other cooperation members, particularly with the switch mechanism on which it is intended to act, which have not been shown for clarity of the drawings.

The figure 2 represents, on the inner face of the wall 7, the attachment mechanism 9 which comprises the selector 4, a guide housing 10, and an assembly formed of a projecting island 11 and an enclosure 12 defining a cam path 13.

The selector 4 is in the form of a lever whose one end 14 forms a lever protruding through the groove 5 to be accessible from the outside of the housing 2 (see figure 1 ). The other end of the selector 4 is formed of a semicircular piece 15 comprising a recess adapted to form a housing 16.

The semicircular piece 15 is mounted in the circular guide housing 10 and concentric with the semicircular piece 15 so that this the last is guided in rotation and can occupy the positions of Figures 2 and 3 corresponding to the two extreme positions of the selector 4.

The cam path 13 is defined by the salient island 11 and the enclosure 12 which forms a device commonly referred to as a "core cam assembly" enabling, via a capture groove 17 of the projecting island 11 keep the pusher 3 in its retracted position.

The figure 2 further represents schematically a lug 18 in the different positions it can take on the cam path 13. This lug 18 is connected by the rod 6 to the pusher 3 which is movable in the direction indicated by the double arrow 8.

The figure 3 has the same elements as the figure 2 , the selector 4 being nevertheless in its other extreme position, the semicircular piece 15 having thus undergone rotation inside the housing 10.

The operation of the electrical apparatus 1 in its bistable and monostable configurations will now be described.

The figure 2 represents the attachment mechanism 9 in its bistable configuration.

When the pusher 3 is in its extended position, the lug 18 is in the housing 16 of the selector 4. The lug 18 is then in a position called "starting position".

When the user pushes the pusher 3 to its retracted position and releases the pressure, the lug 18 follows the arrow path of the figure 2 from its starting position until it is caught in the capture groove 17. The aforesaid path corresponds to the path section 19 of the cam path 13.

Insofar as a return spring continuously urges the pusher 3 towards its extended position, the positioning of the lug 18 in the capture groove 17 is a stable position and keeps the pusher 3 in its retracted position.

When the user decides to return to the deployed position of the pusher 3, he exerts a pressure on the latter and releases it causing the pin 18 to pass from the capture groove 17 to its starting position in the housing 16. In because of the particular shape of the salient island 11 and the chamber 12 (well known devices "heart cam"), the pin 18 returns to its starting position by borrowing a return section 20 of the cam path 13, different from the section to go 19.

The electrical apparatus 1 thus operates in a bistable configuration, each operation of depressing and then releasing the pusher 3 from its deployed position to its retracted position and vice versa.

With reference to the figure 3 the selector 4 has been moved and the electrical apparatus 1 is now in a monostable operating configuration.

Moving the joystick 14 from the position of the figure 2 to that of the figure 3 has caused rotation of the semicircular part 15 inside the guide housing 10 and has consequently caused a displacement of the housing 16 in the direction of the return section 20 of the cam path 13. The housing 16 has been moved, the lug 18 now occupies a position called "offset initial position" when it is located in this housing 16.

More specifically, the projecting island 11 has a point 21 opposite the capture groove 17. The displacement of the housing 16 makes it possible to move the lug 18 from its starting position located on the side of the tip 21 corresponding to the stretch to go 19 ( figure 2 ), at its offset initial position located on the other side of the tip 21 corresponding to the return section 20 ( figure 3 ).

In the configuration of the figure 3 , the depression of the pusher 3 towards its retracted position allows the lug 18 to move from its initial offset position to a position where it is disposed against the enclosure 12. The release of the pressure on the pusher 3 then causes under the effect of the return spring of the pusher 3, a return of the lug 18 to its initial offset position.

The circulation of the lug 18 along the cam path 13 is therefore, in this configuration of the figure 3 , only along the return section 20.

The electrical apparatus 1 thus operates in a monostable configuration.

Alternative embodiments of the device can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the projecting island 11 may have a different configuration, for example not have a tip 21. In addition, the selector 4 can ensure the displacement of the housing 16 by any appropriate guidance, for example by translation.

Claims (10)

1. An item of electrical equipment (1) comprising in a casing (2):

   - a push button (3) capable of adopting an extended position and a retracted position;

   - a hooking mechanism (9) with which the push button (3) cooperates, having a selector (4) which is accessible from the outside of the casing (2) and which is capable of adopting a first position corresponding to a bistable configuration of the item of equipment (1), in which position the push button (3) is held alternatingly in its retracted position and in its extended position, and a second position corresponding to a monostable configuration of the item of equipment (1), in which position the push button (3) is able to move freely between its extended and retracted positions;

   said hooking mechanism (9) comprising a lug (18) which is connected to the push button (3) and cooperating, when the selector (4) is in its first position, with a cam groove (13) formed around a small projecting insular region (11) provided with an arresting groove (17) in such a way that when the push button (3) is urged from its extended position into its retracted position the lug (18) passes from a starting position to an arresting position in which the lug (18) is in the arresting groove (17), via an outward travel portion (19) of the cam groove (13), and, when the push button (3) is subsequently urged so as to return to its extended position, the lug (18) passes from its arresting position to its starting position via a return travel portion (20) of the cam groove (13), separate from the outward travel portion (19);
   this item of equipment being characterised in that the hooking mechanism (9) comprises means for displacing the lug (18) when the push button (3) is in its extended position, between said starting position and an offset initial position in such a way that when the selector (4) is in its second position, the lug (18) takes said return travel portion (20) of the cam groove (13).
2. An item of electrical equipment according to Claim 1, characterised in that said starting position is located in the outward travel portion (19) of the cam groove (13), and in that said offset initial position is located in the return travel portion (20) of the cam groove (13).
3. An item of electrical equipment according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the small projecting insular region (11) has a tip (21) which is disposed in opposite relationship to its arresting groove (17), the starting position and the offset initial position being located on either side of said tip (21).
4. An item of electrical equipment according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises a seating (16) capable of receiving the lug (18) when the push button (3) is in its extended position, said displacement means being capable of acting on the position of said seating (16).
5. An item of electrical equipment according to Claim 4, characterised in that the selector (4) comprises a rotary part (15) which is equipped with said seating (16), rotational movement of said part (15) bringing about the displacement of the seating (16).
6. An item of electrical equipment according to Claim 5, characterised in that said rotary part (15) is inserted into a seating for circular guidance (10).
7. An item of electrical equipment according to Claim 6, characterised in that the selector (4) comprises a lever equipped with a handle (14) at one of its ends and with said rotary part (15) at the other end.
8. An item of electrical equipment according to Claim 7, characterised in that said handle (14) is capable of moving along a curved channel (5) which is concentric to the seating for circular guidance (10).
9. An item of electrical equipment according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the cam groove (13) is delimited between the small projecting insular region (11) and an assembly formed by the rotary part (15) and a chamber (12) which surrounds said small projecting insular region (11).
10. An item of electrical equipment according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the hooking mechanism (9) is fixed to the inner face of a wall (7) of the casing (2).

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