Control device comprising a movable upper panel for actuating a switching breaker

1. A device for the control of an electronic apparatus, the device comprising:

a horizontal upper panel comprising an upper actuation face that is delimited by a contour and upon which a user can exert at least one control action by applying to it a downward oriented pressure loading;

a lower support armature to which the upper panel is movably mounted and configured to move in a vertical motion between a top rest position, to which the panel is elastically restored, and an active bottom position;

a switching breaker configured to be triggered directly by the upper panel when the upper panel is in the active bottom position; and

an articulated structure that is interposed vertically between the upper panel and the lower armature to hold the upper panel parallel to a horizontal plane during its downward vertical motion with respect to the armature;

wherein:

the vertical axis of actuation of the switching breaker is arranged at a periphery of a contour of the upper panel, and

the articulated structure comprises a plurality of consecutive shafts, wherein each of the plurality of consecutive shafts:

extends in a rectilinear direction and is arranged along an associated edge of the contour of the upper actuation face;

comprises a first distal end segment with respect to the breaker and is configured to bear vertically downwards against a distal contact point of the lower support armature and bear vertically upwards against a distal contact point of the upper panel; and

comprises a second proximal end segment with respect to the breaker and is configured to bear vertically upwards against a proximal contact point of the lower support armature and bear vertically downwards against a proximal contact point of the upper panel;

wherein, for each shaft:

its associated distal contact point with the upper panel and its associated proximal contact point with the upper panel are positioned longitudinally according to a first longitudinal geometric axis, and

its associated distal contact point with the lower support armature and its associated proximal contact point with the lower support armature are positioned longitudinally according to a second geometric axis which is parallel to the first geometric axis.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vertical axis of actuation of the switching breaker is positioned between two proximal end segments of two consecutively positioned shafts.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the switching breaker is interposed vertically between the upper panel and the lower support armature; and

the switching breaker is configured to produce a control signal when it is subjected to a pressure loading greater than a predetermined threshold value, and when the value of the pressure loading is less than the said threshold value, the switching breaker constitutes an abutment of the upper panel in its upper rest position to which it is restored elastically by the switching breaker.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of consecutive shafts is rotatably mounted with respect to the upper panel about a first geometric axis parallel to the rectilinear direction along which it extends between its distal and proximal end segments, and wherein each of the plurality of consecutive shafts is rotatably mounted with respect to the lower support armature about a second geometric axis parallel to the rectilinear direction along which it extends between its two distal end segments.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of consecutive shafts comprises a rectilinear central part, a rectilinear distal end part parallel to the rectilinear central part and offset laterally with respect to the rectilinear central part, and a proximal end part that is aligned longitudinally with the distal end part, in that the said two contact points belonging to the upper panel cooperate with opposite zones of the said central part, and in that each contact point belonging to the lower support armature cooperates with an opposite zone of the associated end parts.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper actuation face is delimited by a rectangular polygonal contour, and wherein at least two consecutive shafts are arranged along at least two consecutive sides of the polygonal contour.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the device comprises symmetry of design with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry passing through the vertical axis of actuation of the switching breaker.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of consecutive shafts is associated with at least one adjusting member, the at least one adjusting member being adjustably associated in a vertical direction with the lower armature to take up assembly play and apply a preload to an associated shaft.