IP Library Granted Patent US 11,735,381
Granted Patent B2
US 11,735,381 · App. 17/667,626 · Granted Aug 22, 2023

Electric push-button switch

Inventors: Andre Fehling (Sundern, DE); Kristian Lanzon (Dortmund, DE)
Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
H01H13/30H01H13/14H01H13/52H01H2215/034H01H2221/044H01H2235/004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,735,381
App. No.
17/667,626
Granted
Aug 22, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric pushbutton switch includes a guide housing, a switching element having a haptic element that produces a pressure point and a return spring that generates a restoring force, an actuator for actuating the switching element, and a resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The switching element being stationary relative to the guide housing and the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing. The actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element. The resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the actuator. The resilient compensation element has a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.

Claims (32)

1. An electric pushbutton switch comprising:

a guide housing;

a switching element having a casing, a haptic element that produces a pressure point, and a return spring that generates a restoring force, the casing being stationary relative to the guide housing;

an actuator for actuating the switching element, the actuator being movable relative to the guide housing, wherein the actuator actuates the switching element against the restoring force when the actuator is moved relative to the guide housing in an actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element; and

at least one resilient tolerance compensation element arranged between the guide housing and the actuator, each resilient compensation element having a spring force directed in the actuating direction of the actuator towards the switching element and opposite the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element.

2. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the switching element is a microswitch.

3. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the actuator includes a button.

4. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 further comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

wherein the switching element is arranged on the printed circuit board.

5. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the actuator includes a support bar and a button supported thereon; and

each resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and respective portion of the support bar to be arranged between the guide housing and the actuator.

6. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the actuator includes a button and first and second support bars in a one-piece design;

the at least one resilient tolerance compensation element includes first and second resilient tolerance compensation elements; and

the first resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the first support bar to be arranged between the guide housing and the actuator and the second resilient tolerance compensation element is arranged between the guide housing and the second support bar to be arranged between the guide housing and the actuator.

7. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the switching element further includes a switch tappet; and

wherein an underside of the actuator rests against the switch tappet.

8. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one resilient tolerance compensation element includes at least one coil spring.

9. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one resilient tolerance compensation element includes two resilient tolerance compensation elements, and each resilient tolerance compensation element is a coil spring.

10. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 9 wherein:

the two coil springs are situated in parallel to one another.

11. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

in an unactuated state of the actuator, the spring force of each resilient tolerance compensation element is in equilibrium with the restoring force of the return spring of the switching element whereby actuation of the actuator begins and ends with being free of force.

12. The electric pushbutton switch of claim 1 wherein:

the haptic element is a snap dome.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2023
From: LANZON, KRISTIAN
To: KOSTAL AUTOMOBIL ELEKTRIK GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 063818/0966 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 005 800.3 · Aug 17, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2020072670 · Aug 12, 2020
Related Publication 20220165518A1 · May 26, 2022