GB2297428A - Subminiature switch adapter for a lamp and switch holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A subminiature switch adapter for a lamp and switch holder comprises an electrically insulating body provided with a socket (1) for a lamp (3) and a base (2) removably attachable to a body of a push button switch comprises an electrically insulating one-piece body (17) having the shape of an inverted "U" which is secured snugly between resilient lugs (10) and tabs (11, 12), of the lamp and switch holder by engagement of stubs (11a, 12a) on the switch holder into holes (18, 19) provided in the adapter. The casing of a subminiature switch (21) is retained snugly between a wall (20) and resilient lugs (22) of the adapter by engagement of protuberances (26) on the adapter into holes (30) provided in the casing of the subminiature switch (21). The intermediary web of the U-shaped body has an opening (23) facing a pushbutton (25) of the subminiature switch (21) so as to allow the passage therethrough of an actuating leg of the push button. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Subminiature switch adapter for a lamp and switch holder Inventive Field The invention relates to an adapter for push-button switches which incorporate built-in lamps so that they can be easily located.

Background Art A switch incorporating a built-in lamp generally includes a translucent button illuminated by a small bulb. The button is associated with a movable plunger so that depression of the button causes the plunger to activate a microswitch. The bulb is retained in position by an electrically insulating switch holder, which incorporates a socket having a plug-in connection for receiving a tail of the bulb.

The switch holder also incorporates a base portion which is adapted to be attached to a tubular body which houses the switch. The tubular body generally includes an externally threaded portion so that the switch can be screwed into place within a mounting panel.

The tubular body houses the movable plunger, which extends from the translucent button through notches in the base portion of the switch holder, to the microswitch. The plunger includes legs, which end in retaining elbows, and one of the legs can activate a push button on the microswitch.

The microswitch is held between resilient lugs and opposed tabs which depend from the base portion of the switch holder, and is retained by engagement of stubs provided at the ends of the tabs with corresponding holes in the microswitch.

Lamp and switch holders of this type are described, for example, in Spanish utility model no. 8600488 and in US patent 4,871,890 issued to the inventor of the present invention.

Patent application 9400015, filed also by the same inventor, describes a push-button electric switch with integrated lamp comprising a special holder provided for integrating even smaller switches commonly known as subminiature switches, i.e. switches of much smaller size than those conventionally used in the previously cited publications of prior art.

The present invention relates to an adapter whose characteristics are defined in the claims and which offers the possibility of using holders of the type cited in the above-mentioned Spanish utility model no.

8600488 and US patent 4,871,890, which were conceived only for mounting miniature switches but which by means of this adapter can also be used for mounting switches of much smaller size, of subminiature type, in a firm and stable way.

By using the adapter in conjunction with basic holders such as those mentioned above, it becomes possible to mount a miniature switch or a subminiature switch if desired and if thus demanded by the space availability.

Thus are obtained advantages that are characteristic of a very small switch which is more compact, has its terminals aligned with said tubular body and requires less space.

The adapter body when attached to the legs extending from the switchholder forms an assembly which is stronger and tougher than the original one. This facilitates manipulation of the switch especially when carrying out disassembly in order to replace the bulb.

As compared with the solution of the above-mentioned patent application no. 9400015 the adapter of this invention offers more versatility (miniature or subminiature switches), and in a preferred embodiment the larger size of the tabs makes manipulation easier as compared with the prior art.

For a better understanding of the characteristics and advantages of the object of this invention this description is accompanied by a sheet of drawings illustrating by way of a merely indicative and non limiting example a possible embodiment of the adapter in question.

The Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the adapter from underneath.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of said adapter in its usual assembly position.

Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view showing the mutual arrangement between the adapter (at the centre), the lamp and switch holder (at the top) and the subminiature type switch (at the bottom).

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the assembly of Figure 3 once put together, showing schematically in dash-dotted lines the tubular body to which the said lamp and switch holder is adapted as indicated.

Referring to the drawings, a switch holder consists of an electrically insulating one-piece body provided with a socket 1 and a base 2. The socket 1 receives in a plug-in connection the tail of a lamp 3 . The switch holder is adapted to be removably attached to a tubular body 4 into which said socket 1 and lamp 3 are introduced in order to illuminate a translucent pushbutton push-button.

The tubular body houses a (spring-biased) movable plunger ending at its upper end in the translucent push-button and extending at its lower end into legs 5 ending in retaining elbows 6. The legs pass through notches 7, 8 in the base 2, one of said legs 5 being able when said plunger is pressed to reach the push-button of a subminiature-sized switch 21. The subminiature-sized switch is engaged between resilient lugs 10 and tabs 11,12 opposed to said lugs. The lugs 10 and tabs 11,12 depend from said base 2 and retain the switch 21 by engagement of stubs lla,12a of said tabs 11,12 into corresponding holes of the subminiature-sized switch casing and by the pressure of said lugs 10.

In order that the above switch holder can be used with a subminiature-sized switch, an adapter according to the invention is used. The adapter consists of an electrically insulating one-piece body 17 having the approximate shape of an inverted "U", whose width has a dimension in correspondence with the casing of the subminiature-sized switch. The body 17 is snugly engageable between lugs 10 and tabs 11,12 which start from the base 2 of the lamp and switch holder.

Besides fitting snugly between said lugs 10 and tabs 11, 12 the adapter body 17 firmly attaches itself to said tabs by engagement of said stubs lla, 12a into holes 18, 19 provided in one of the side flanges 20 or walls. The side flanges 20 are longer than the subminiature-sized switch 21 as can be appreciated in Fig. 3. An opposed side wall is formed from resilient lugs 22. Furthermore, the intermediary web 24 of said U-shaped body features a base with an opening 23 directly facing pushbutton 25 of said subminiature-sized switch 21 and facing a corresponding notch 8 of said base 2, so as to allow the passage therethrough of heel 6 of one of the legs 5 of the plunger.

The casing of said subminiature-sized switch 21 is arranged in such a way that it fits snugly between said wall 20 and lugs 22 (see Fig. 4) and is retained by engagement of protuberances 26 existing on the inner face of the larger-sized wall 20 into corresponding holes provided in the casing of said subminiature switch 21.

As can be appreciated in Fig. 2, the larger-sized side wall 20 of body 17 is formed by a rectangular plate with an extension 20a by way of tab with rounded ends adjacent whose edge it has anchor hole 19.

Claims (9)

1. An adapter for a switch holder, the switch holder including a socket (1) for receiving a lamp (3) and opposed resilient legs (11,12) for retaining a microswitch; wherein the adapter comprises a generally U-shaped body which is receivable within the opposed resilient legs (11,12) and which has internal dimensions suitable for receiving the casing of a subminiature-sized switch (21).

2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the generally U-shaped body (17) is provided with holes (18,19) for engagement with stubs (lla,12a) provided on the resilient legs.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the generally U-shaped body includes at least one side flange (20) which extends beyond the casing of the subminiature-sized switch (21) when that switch is received within the generally U-shaped body (17).

4. An adapter according to claim 3 wherein the side flange is formed from a rectangular plate extended by way of a tab (20a) with rounded ends adjacent whose edge it bears an anchor hole (19).

5. An adapter according to any preceding claim wherein the generally U-shaped body (17) includes a side flange (20) opposed to one or more resilient lugs (22), the subminiature-sized switch (21) being held between the side flange (20) and the resilient lugs (22) by engagement of protrusions (26) on an inner face of the side flange (20) or of the lugs (22) in corresponding holes (30) in the casing of the subminiature-sized switch (21).

6. An adapter according to any preceding claim wherein the generally U-shaped body (17) is provided with an opening (23) through which means for activating the microswitch may pass.

7. An adapter according to any preceding claim wherein the body is electrically insulating.

8. An adapter substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

9. A Subminiature switch adapter for a lamp and switch holder said holder consisting in an electrically insulating body including a socket (1) for a lamp and a base (2), the latter arranged to be removably attached to a body (4) provided to be fastened to a panel, said socket and lamp being introduced in said body (4) which also houses a portion of a movable plunger extending itself in legs (5) ending in retaining elbows (6) and passing through notches (7,8) of said base (2), one of said legs being besides able, when said plunger is pressed, to reach the pushbutton of a miniature-sized switch whose body is engaged between resilient lugs (10) and opposed tabs (11,12) starting from projections of said base (2), characterised in that it comprises an electrically insulating one-piece body (17) having the shape of an inverted "U" whose width has a dimension in correspondence with the casing of a subminiature-sized switch (21), said one-piece body (17) being snugly engageable between said lugs (10) and tabs (11,12), starting from said base (2) of said lamp and switch holder and being firmly attached to said tabs by engagement of stubs (lla,12a) thereof into some holes (18,19) provided in one of the side flanges or walls (20) which is longer than the subminiature switch (21), the opposed side wall of said body (17) comprising resilient lugs (22), said casing of said subminiature switch (21) being arranged in such a way that it fits snugly between said wall (20) and said lugs (22) and is retained by engagement of some protuberances (26) existing on the inner face of one of said side walls into corresponding side holes (30) provided in said casing of said subminiature switch (21) and in that the intermediary web (23) of said U-shaped body features a base with an opening (24) directly facing a pushbutton (25) of said subminiature switch (21) and facing a corresponding notch (8) of said base (2), so as to allow the passage therethrough of a heel (6) of one of said legs (5) of said plunger.