Control element with a mechanical actuator
View Patent ↗The inventive control element is provided with a mechanical actuator ( 8 ) and an electrical or electromechanical switching element ( 3;4 ), whereby the switching element ( 3;4 ) comprising of at least one push button ( 5;6 ) reacting upon pressure. Thereby, the actuator ( 8 ) is arranged elastically or resiliently relocatable or tiltable with respect to the switching element ( 3;4 ) or the push button ( 5;6 ) respectively and an actuating cam ( 10;11 ) is further provided at the actuator ( 8 ) facing the push button ( 5;6 ), whereby the actuator ( 8 ) and the switching element ( 3;4 ) are not directly connected to each other. The dividing of the control element into two parts, one mechanical actuating part ( 8 ) and one electrical switching part ( 3;4 ), permits the replacement or exchange only of the mechanical actuating ( 8 ) part without any influence to the electrical switching part ( 3;4 ). The replacement or exchange therefore may take place without the need of desoldering of the electrical switching part ( 3;4 ) from its printed circuit board or from its connected wires.
1. Control element with a mechanical actuator ( 8 ) and an electrical or electromechanical element ( 3 ; 4 ), whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) comprising of at least one push button ( 5 ; 6 ) reacting upon pressure and whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is arranged elastically or resiliently relocatable or tiltable with respect to the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) or the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) respectively and that further an actuating cam ( 10 ; 11 ) is provided at the actuator ( 8 ) facing the push button ( 5 ; 6 ), whereby the actuator ( 8 ) and the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) are separately mounted parts and the actuator ( 8 ) and the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) are not directly connected to each other.
2. Control element according claim 1 , whereby the switching element is comprising of two adjacently arranged, identically built up switching elements ( 3 , 4 ) connected to each other, each of them comprising one push button ( 5 , 6 ).
3. Control element according claim 1 with the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) comprising of a micro switch, a rubber mat with contacting elements or a twistable punching element.
4. Control element according claim 1 whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is arranged on a printed circuit board ( 7 ).
5. Control element according claim 4 whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is soldering connected with conducting paths of the printed circuit board ( 7 ).
6. Control element according claim 1 with the actuator ( 8 ) consisting of plastics, with an open resilient profile for a snapping connection with support elements ( 9 ) arranged above or laterally of the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ).
7. Control element according claim 1 with the actuator ( 8 ) having a concave recess towards its operation side.
8. Control element according claim 1 with the actuator ( 8 ) having a tongue protruding to the outside, with concave or convex recessed grip ( 12 ) on one or both sides.
9. Control element according claim 1 with the actuator ( 8 ) having both a first contact surface ( 8 ″) arranged substantially parallel to the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) and a second contact surface ( 8 ′) arranged substantially perpendicular to the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) and having a rounded shape.
10. Control element according claim 9 with the first contact surface ( 8 ″) comprising of a concave cavity and the second contact surface ( 8 ′) having at least partially a cylindrical shape.
11. Control element according claim 1 whereby the actuator ( 8 ) having a tilting axis ( 9 ), which is formed by a pin arranged above the push button ( 5 ; 6 ), and whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is detachably attached to the tilting axis ( 9 ).
12. Control element according claim 1 whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is provided of a flexible cover ( 13 ) putted over the actuator ( 8 ).
13. Control element according claim 12 whereby the flexible cover ( 13 ) consists of rubber or rubber like material.
14. Control element according to claim 1 , whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is mounted to a housing ( 2 ) and the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is mounted to a printed circuit board ( 7 ).
15. Control element with a mechanical actuator ( 8 ) and an electrical or electromechanical switching element ( 3 ; 4 ), whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) comprising of at least one push button ( 5 ; 6 ) reacting upon pressure and whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is arranged elastically or resiliently relocatable or tiltable with respect to the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) or the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) respectively and that further an actuating cam ( 10 ; 11 ) is provided at the actuator ( 8 ) facing the push button ( 5 ; 6 ), whereby the actuator ( 8 ) and the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) are separately mounted parts such that the actuator ( 8 ) can be replaced without affecting the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) which is left installed in the control element.
16. Hearing device or hearing aid with a control element with a mechanical actuator ( 8 ) and an electrical or electromechanical switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) for the controlling of features of the hearing device or hearing aid respectively, whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) comprising of at least one push button ( 5 ; 6 ) reacting upon pressure and whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is arranged elastically or resiliently relocatable or tiltable with respect to the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) or the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) respectively and that further an actuating cam ( 10 ; 11 ) is provided at the actuator ( 8 ) facing the push button ( 5 ; 6 ); whereby the actuator ( 8 ) and switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) are separately mounted parts whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is mounted directly to a housing ( 2 ) of the hearing device or hearing aid and the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is mounted on a structure distinct from the housing ( 2 ); wherein the actuator ( 8 ) can be replaced without Removing any structure touching the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ).
17. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 whereby the controlled features comprise a volume control and/or a switching of different program modes.
18. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is connected directly with a printed circuit board ( 7 ) of an electronic module of the device at the inside of the housing ( 2 ), whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is protruding at least partially to the outside from an opening of the housing ( 2 ) of the device ( 1 ).
19. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with a support for the actuator ( 8 ) arranged within the housing ( 2 ) of the device in form of a tilting axis ( 9 ).
20. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 , whereby the switching element is comprising of two adjacently arranged, identically built up switching elements ( 3 , 4 ) connected to each other, each of them comprising one push button ( 5 , 6 ).
21. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) comprising of a micro switch, a rubber mat with contacting elements or a twistable punching element.
22. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is arranged on a printed circuit board ( 7 ).
23. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 22 whereby the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is soldering connected with conducting paths of the printed circuit board ( 7 ).
24. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with the actuator ( 8 ) consisting of plastics, with an open resilient profile for a snapping connection with support elements ( 9 ) arranged above or laterally of the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ).
25. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with the actuator ( 8 ) having a concave recess towards its operation side.
26. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with the actuator ( 8 ) having a tongue protruding to the outside, with concave or convex recessed grip ( 12 ) on one or both sides.
27. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with the actuator ( 8 ) having both a first contact surface ( 8 ″) arranged substantially parallel to the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) and a second contact surface ( 8 ′) arranged substantially perpendicular to the push button ( 5 ; 6 ) and having a rounded shape.
28. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 with the first contact surface ( 8 ″) comprising of a concave cavity and the second contact surface ( 8 ′) having at least partially a cylindrical shape.
29. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 whereby the actuator ( 8 ) having a tilting axis ( 9 ), which is formed by a pin arranged above the push button ( 5 ; 6 ), and whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is detachably attached to the tilting axis ( 9 ).
30. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 16 whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is provided of a flexible cover ( 13 ) putted over the actuator ( 8 ).
31. Hearing device or hearing aid according claim 30 whereby the flexible cover ( 13 ) consists of rubber or rubber like material.
32. Control element according to claim 16 , whereby the actuator ( 8 ) is mounted to a housing ( 2 ) and the switching element ( 3 ; 4 ) is mounted to a printed circuit board ( 7 ).