Air-gap switch
View Patent ↗A switching device is provided having an air-gap switch for an electrical load. The switching device can include a switch keycap configured for controlling the switching of the electrical load. A faceplate can be configured to surround the switch keycap. In addition, an air-gap actuator can be contained substantially within the switch keycap. The air-gap actuator can be pulled from the switch keycap to short out an electrical connection to the electrical load.
1. A switching device having an air-gap switch for an electrical load, comprising:
a switch keycap configured for switching of the electrical load;
a faceplate surrounding the switch keycap; and
an air-gap actuator contained substantially within the switch keycap, the air-gap actuator being configured to be pulled from the switch keycap in a plane that is substantially coincident to a switch keycap surface in order to open an electrical connection to the electrical load.
2. A switching device as in claim 1 , a switch keycap frame surrounding the switch keycap, wherein the switch keycap frame contains a slot configured to allow the air-gap actuator to pass over the switch keycap frame.
3. A switching device as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a snap-action switch configured to make and break an electrical connection for the electrical load;
an actuator cam in communication with the air-gap actuator, the actuator cam being configured to actuate the snap-action switch.
4. A switching device as in claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the air-gap switch is contained within a border of a switch keycap and a second portion of the air-gap switch is configured to overlap a switch keycap frame.
5. A switching device as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a lightpipe conduit included with the air-gap actuator; and
a lightpipe emitter extending to a surface of the air-gap actuator.
6. A switching device as in claim 5 , further comprising an LED within the switching device, the LED being in optical communication with the lightpipe conduit.
7. A switching device as in claim 1 , further comprising a ridge on the air-gap switch, the ridge being configured to enable an end user to pull the air-gap actuator out from the switch keycap.
8. A switching device as in claim 1 , further comprising a maximum extension stop to limit the travel of the air-gap actuator.
9. A switching device having an air-gap switch for an electrical load, comprising:
a switch keycap configured for controlling switching of the electrical load;
a switch keycap frame surrounding the switch keycap;
a faceplate surrounding the switch keycap frame;
an air-gap actuator configured to have a majority of the air-gap actuator recessed within the switch keycap, the air-gap actuator being configured to be pulled from the switch key-cap to completely open an electrical connection to the electrical load;
a lightpipe conduit coupled to the air-gap actuator; and
a lightpipe emitter on a surface of the air-gap actuator, the lightpipe emitter being coupled to the lightpipe conduit.
10. A switching device as in claim 9 , further comprising an LED within the switching device, the LED being optically coupled to the lightpipe conduit.
11. A switching device as in claim 9 , wherein the air-gap actuator is configured to be pulled out from the switch keycap in a plane that is substantially coincident to the switch keycap surface.
12. A switching device as in claim 9 , a switch keycap frame having a slot configured to allow the air-gap actuator to pass over the switch keycap frame.
13. A switching device as in claim 9 , wherein an end shape of the lightpipe emitter is selected from the group consisting of: a rectangle, half-circle, square, round, triangular, hex, s-shaped, and half-moon shaped.
14. A switching device as in claim 9 , wherein the lightpipe conduit and lightpipe emitter are colored or clear plastic.
15. A switching device as in claim 9 , wherein a plurality of LED colors are used to represent different states of the switching device.
16. A switching device having an air-gap switch for an electrical load, comprising:
a switch keycap configured for controlling the switching of the electrical load;
an escutcheon plate surrounding the switch keycap;
an air-gap actuator that is recessed within the switch keycap, the air-gap actuator being configured to be pulled from the switch keycap to completely open an electrical connection to the electrical load; and
the air-gap actuator does not extend into the escutcheon plate when the air-gap actuator is not activated.
17. A switching device as in claim 16 , wherein the escutcheon plate is recessed below the air-gap actuator in order to allow the air-gap actuator to pass over the escutcheon plate.
18. A switching device as in claim 16 , further comprising a switch faceplate surrounding the escutcheon plate and a plate substrate to which the switch faceplate is coupled.