US3090855A

US3090855A - Transparent switch boot

Info

Publication number: US3090855A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1963-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-21

Description

May 21, 1963 M. MORSE TRANSPARENT SWITCH BooT Filedpct. 51

United States Patent 3,090,855 TRANSPARENT SWITCH BOOT Milton Morse, 41 Honeck St., Riverdale, N. Filed Oct. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 149,110 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates generally to the field of ilexible protective sealing devices adapted to be positioned around the exposed portions of an electric switch or other control mounted in a control panel or other surface in such manner that the control may be operated through the protective device by deforming the same, and more particularly to an improved form of such device for use in conjunction with controls having a rectangular exposed mounting flange.

it is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved switch boot which may be easily installed in sealed position about vthe exposed portions of a rectangularly shaped control without the use of tools, to form an effective seal about such frame against the exposed surface of a panel in which the control is mounted.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a switch boot sealing device of the class described in which a portion of the same may be readily detached to permit inspection and/or servicingl of the control disposed therebeneath.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a switch boot of the class described having a transparent component flexibly overlying the normally fingerengaged surface of the control, thereby particularly adapting the device for use in conjunction with self-illuminated switches.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a switch boot device of the class described and possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of ribbed means on the transparent element comprising the device for purposes of preventing the same from sticking to the normally linger-engaged control surface.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of a two-piece switch boot, in which one element thereof is more or less permanently installed about the rectangular frame of the control, the other part being readily selectively engageable and disengageable therewith.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of an embodiment of the invention in installed condition.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded fragmentary sectional view showing the structure of FIGURE 1 in disassembled condition.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a boot element comprising a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of a mounting frame element comprising a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a pushbutton type switch with which the embodiment is used.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 6-6 in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device generally indicated by reference character 10, is illustrated in the drawings in use in conjunction with the rectangular frame 11 of a push-button type switch 12 having a projecting 3,090,855 Patented May 2l, 1963 rectangular button 13 disposed within the frame 11, the details of which form no part of the present dis closure, and which need not be further described. Controls or switches of this type are normally positioned within a rectangular opening in a panel 16, the frame 11 overlying the edges of the opening, and contacting the outer surface of the panel 16. The device 10 is adapted to t over the frame 11, and to partially extend between the overhanging portion of the frame 11 and the outer surface of the panel 16. It comprises broadly a mounting frame element 14 and a boot element 15.

The mounting frame element 14 is preferably formed as a stamping, using progressive die technique or similar forming means. It includes a continuous side wall 17, a continuous upper flange 18, and a pair of frameengaging lower flanges 19 and 20.

The side wall 17 is of rectangular configuration corresponding to that of the frame 11, including a pair of

longer portions

22 and 23, a first shorter portion 24 -disposed at right angles with respect thereto, and a cutaway shorter portion 25 disposed opposite the portion 24. The portion 25 is sufficiently shallow to permit the same to readily pass over the frame 11 during engagement, as will more clearly appear hereinafter. To facilitate forming operation, the juncture of the

portions

22, 23 and 24 are provided with arcuate cutout portions at 26 and 27.

The continuous upper flange 18 includes

longer portions

29 and 30, as well as shorter portions 31 and 32 interconnected by

curved portions

33, 34, 35 and 36.

The lower flanges 19 and 20 are generally similar, and include angularly disposed leading edges 39 and 40 to facilitate insertion beneath the frame 11 upon engagement therewith.

The boot element 15 is also rectangular in configuration, and includes a metallic support member 44 and a resilient member 45 bonded to the inner surface thereof.

The member 44 is also preferably formed as a stamping, and includes a planar outer wall 47, and a continuons integrally-formed side wall 48. The planar wall 47 includes an outer surface '49, an inner surface 50, as well as

side edges

51, 52, 53 and 54. A centrally disposed opening 55 corresponds in dimensions to the button 13 of the switch 12, being bounded by

rectilinear edges

56, 57, 58 and 59.

The resilient member 45 is formed of transparent resilient synthetic resinous material, and preferably transparent silicon rubber. The member 45 is preferably molded within the member 44 to be bonded thereto at the time of curing of the material from which the member 45 is formed. It includes a ribbed upper planar wall 61, a continuous side wall 62 lying within the side wall 48, as well as a continuous flange 63 which forms the seal against the panel 16. The ribs form the equivalent of a Fresnel lens to facilitate viewing therethrough, and prevent the formation of an air seal between the inner surface of the walls 61 and the switch. A continuous groove 64 is positioned immediately below the wall 61, and is selectively engageable with the upper ange 18 upon installation.

The device 10 is preferably installed prior to the tightening of the frame 11 within the opening in the panel 16, to permit engagement of the lower anges 19 and 20 with the inner surfaces of the frame 11. The engagement is performed in a sliding manner, the cutaway shorter portion 25 passing over the frame 11, the button 13 being momentarily depressed to permit clearance. Once positioned, the frame element 14 is retained by the tightening of the frame 11 against the panel 16. The boot element 15 is installed by pushing the same directly over the frame element 1'4, until the groove 64 engages the ange 18. In this position,

the ange 63 is resiliently urged against the outer surface of the panel 16, to provide an efective seal, and manipulation offthe button '1-3 is accomplished by pushing upon the wall 14 which fieXes under light pressure. Should it be desirable to inspect the switch 12, it is necessary only to disengage -the boot element 15 'by pulling outwardly thereupon, the-frame element 14 remaining in position during such inspection.

V I wish itto-be'understood that` I do not consider the invention limited to theprecisendetails of structure shown andV set forth in this specicatio, for obvious modifications -will occur to those skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains.

I claim: 1

1. Aehermetic boot for use in conjunction with a. panel-mounted push-button control, having an outwardly extending generally Yrectangular frame, comprising: a 1 mounting framevelement and a boot element, said mountingframe element including rst ange means slidably engageable with a portion of said rectangular frame, and

second flange means lying in a plane-substantially parallel y to the plane of said irst'ange means, said boot element including a exible member of configuration corresponding to that of said mounting frame element, and having groove means selectivelyl engageable Iwith said second flange means, and a continuous flange adapted to bear against an outwardly disposed surface of said panel upon to the plane of saidrstzange means, said boot element including a flexible member of configuration correspond ing tofthat of said mounting frame element, Vand having groove means selectively engageable lwith said -ksecond flange means, and a continuous flange adapted to bear against anoutwardly disposed surface of said panel upon engagement of said groove means with said second ange means, said boot element including a metallic frame member surrounding said resilient member in sealed relation and overlying said groove means.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Horning Feb. 29, 1944 Kinsman Aug. 22, 1961

Claims

1. A HERMETIC BOOT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PANEL-MOUNTED PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL, HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME, COMPRISING: A MOUNTING FRAME ELEMENT AND A BOOT ELEMENT, SAID MOUNTING FRAME ELEMENT INCLUDING FIRST FLANGE MEANS SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH A PORTION OF SAID RECTANGULAR FRAME, AND SECOND FLANGE MEANS LYING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE MEANS, SAID BOOT ELEMENT INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE MEMBER OF CONFIGURATION CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF SAID MOUNTING FRAME ELEMENT, AND HAVING GROOVE MEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND FLANGE MEANS, AND A CONTINUOUS FLANGE ADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST AN OUTWARDLY DISPOSED SURFACE OF SAID PANEL UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GROOVE MEANS WITH SAID SECOND FLANGE MEANS, SAID BOOT ELEMENT INCLUDING A METALLIC FRAME MEMBER SURROUNDING SAID RESILINET MEMBER IN SEALED RELATION.