Abstract:
A switch wire connection device has a simplified structure and is easy to operate with enhanced stability of operation. The switch wire connection device includes a conductive component mounted in an insulation case, a switch pushbutton assembled with the conductive component and an electrical contact. The electrical contact has a restriction unit and a contact plate connected with the restriction unit. By means of operating the pushbutton, the conductive component is driven to selectively electrically contact or separate from the contact plate. The restriction unit defines a space, in which a metal leaf spring is assembled. The wiring circuit or conductive wire of a machine or equipment can be easily directly plugged into the space of the restriction unit and held by the metal leaf spring. The metal leaf spring is prevented from deflecting in the operation process.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a switch wire connection device, and more particularly to a switch wire connection device including a restriction unit, a contact plate and a metal leaf spring assembled with each other for directly electrically connecting with a conductive wire. The restriction unit has higher rigidity and is able to help in fixing the metal leaf spring and restricting the moving path thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A conventional switch wire connection device is a power switch device capable of connecting circuits or conductive wires. The switch wire connection device is installed on an operation panel or distribution box of an electronic or electrical apparatus for connecting the wiring circuits. The switch wire connection device has an insulation case (generally made of plastic material) and a conductive component enclosed in the insulation case and a screw for locking the wiring circuits or conductive wires of the electronic or electrical apparatus. By means of operating a switch pushbutton, the conductive component is controlled to electrically contact or separate from the wiring circuits or the conductive wires so as to close the circuit to power on the electronic or electrical apparatus or open the circuit to power off the electronic or electrical apparatus. 
         [0005]    With respect to operation, use and structural design of the switch wire connection device, the insulation case is formed with wire sockets and screw locking holes in communication with each other. An operator can use a tool to drive the screw to lock a conductive wire plugged into the wire socket. In practice, the screw must be first positioned in the screw locking hole in a loosened state, permitting the conductive wire to plug into the wire socket. In the loosened state, the screw is often deflected. Under such circumstance, it is troublesome and hard for the operator to aim the tool at the screw to drive the screw for locking the conductive wire with the electrical contact (or termed electrical connection terminal). 
         [0006]    To improve the above problem, there is a conventional switch wire connection device in which the insulation case and the electrical contact are formed with guide channels and guide ribs in cooperation with the spring. Such structure is relatively complicated so that the manufacturing cost is increased and generally the volume of the case is enlarged to avoid interference between the guide structures and the conductive component. The increase of the volume of the case is unbeneficial to the miniaturization of the switch wire connection terminal device and fails to meet the trend to miniaturize the switch wire connection terminal device. 
         [0007]    Also, in some operation environments (such as the operation of the machine or the equipment will cause vibration), after a long term of use, the screw is apt to loosen. As a result, the conductive wire may loosen and detach from the case. Especially, when driving the screw mechanism to lock the conductive wires with the electrical contact, it is necessary to use a tool for tightening/untightening the screw. Such process is relatively troublesome. This is not what we expect. 
         [0008]    There is another conventional switch wire connection device in which the case is designed with a specific internal structure and an α-shaped metal leaf spring is applied to the case for pressing the conductive wires instead of the screw mechanism. However, as known by those who are skilled in this field, the α-shaped metal leaf spring is manufactured by a special bending process and it is necessary to form a mouth section on the metal leaf spring for the other end of the metal leaf spring to swingably pass through the mouth section for pressing the conductive wire. The manufacturing process of the α-shaped metal leaf spring is quite troublesome and complicated. This is not what we expect. 
         [0009]    To speak representatively, the conventional switch wire connection device has some shortcomings in structural design and operational form. To overcome the above shortcomings, it is necessary to redesign the insulation case, the conductive component, the electrical contact and the metal leaf spring and change the use form of the switch wire connection device and widen the application range thereof. For example, in the condition that the volume of the switch wire connection device is not increased, the switch wire connection device is redesigned to have a simplified structure, which is easy to manufacture and operate. In the conventional switch wire connection device, it is hard and troublesome for an operator to aim the tool at the screw to drive the screw for locking the conductive wire with the electrical contact. In addition, it is troublesome to assemble the guide channels and guide ribs of the insulation case and the electrical contact and the spring. Also, an α-shaped metal leaf spring is applied to the insulation case and the structure of the switch wire connection device is complicated. After redesigned, all the above shortcomings of the conventional switch wire connection device are overcome. Moreover, without using any tool, an operator can directly plug the conductive wires into the case to electrically connect with the electrical contact. The electrical contact has higher rigidity or hardness and good electrical conductivity and is able to help in fixing the metal leaf spring and restricting the moving path thereof. All these are not substantially taught, suggested or disclosed in the conventional switch wire connection devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a switch wire connection device, which has a simplified structure and is easy to operate with enhanced stability of operation. The switch wire connection device includes a conductive component mounted in an insulation case, a switch pushbutton assembled with the conductive component and an electrical contact. The electrical contact has a restriction unit and a contact plate connected with the restriction unit. By means of operating the pushbutton, the conductive component is driven to selectively electrically contact or separate from the contact plate. The restriction unit defines a space, in which a metal leaf spring is assembled. The wiring circuit or conductive wire of a machine or equipment can be easily directly plugged into the space of the restriction unit and held by the metal leaf spring. In addition, during the operation process, the metal leaf spring is prevented from deflecting. 
         [0011]    In the above switch wire connection device, the restriction unit and the contact plate are formed as an integrated structure. The restriction unit has a first side, a second side connected with the first side, a third side connected with the second side and a fourth side connected with the third side. The first, second, third and fourth sides together form a frame structure having the space for receiving the metal leaf spring. At least the second side and the fourth side serve to help in restricting the moving path of the metal leaf spring. The contact plate has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected with the first side of the restriction unit. The second end is an inclined and lifted structure and extends in a direction to contact the conductive component. The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of the present invention, showing the structures of the case, the switch pushbutton, the conductive component and the restriction unit and contact plate of the electrical contact and the metal leaf spring; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a sectional assembled view of the present invention, showing the assembly of the case, the switch pushbutton, the conductive component and the restriction unit and contact plate of the electrical contact and the metal leaf spring; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the restriction unit and the contact plate are formed as an integrated structure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing another embodiment of the contact plate of the electrical contact; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a sectional assembled view according to  FIG. 4 , showing the assembly of the case, the switch pushbutton, the conductive component, the conductive wires, the restriction unit and contact plate of the electrical contact and the metal leaf spring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The switch wire connection device of the present invention includes an insulation case  10  and a switch pushbutton  20  assembled with the insulation case  10 . The case  10  has a cavity  11  for receiving the switch pushbutton  20 . The switch pushbutton  20  is assembled with a conductive component  30  and a spring  35 . (This pertains to prior art and thus will not be further described hereinafter). According to the direction of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower end sections of two sides of the case  10  are formed with wire sockets  12  in communication with the cavity  11 . The wiring circuits or conductive wires  90  of an electronic or an electrical apparatus can be plugged through the wire sockets  12  into the cavity  11  to connect with the electrical contact  40 . 
         [0018]    As shown in the drawings, there are two electrical contacts  40  disposed in the cavity  11  of the case. Each electrical contact  40  includes a restriction unit  50  and a contact plate  60  connected with the restriction unit  50 . The restriction unit  50  is selectively made of a plane-plate blank material with higher rigidity or hardness, (such as iron or steel). The plane-plate blank material is manufactured into the restriction unit  50  in the form of a cuboidal frame structure as shown in  FIG. 1  to be assembled with the contact plate  60 . 
         [0019]    As shown in the drawings, the restriction unit  50  has a first side  51 , a second side  52  connected with the first side  51 , a third side  53  connected with the second side  52  and a fourth side  54  connected with the third side  53 , which together form a cuboidal frame structure having a space  55  for receive therein a metal leaf spring  70 . In addition, at least the second side  52  and the fourth side  54  together help in restricting the moving path of the metal leaf spring  70 . 
         [0020]    In this embodiment, the fourth side  54  is bent toward the first side  51  and extends to form a subsidiary side  56 . (For example, the fourth side  54  and the subsidiary side  56  contain an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle). The subsidiary side  56  and the first side  51  are respectively formed with connection sections  56   a ,  51   a , which can be connected with each other. It should be noted that the subsidiary side  56  and the first side  51  can be alternatively connected or fixed with each other by means of insertion, latching, riveting, welding, etc. The second and the fourth sides  52 ,  54  are formed with rib sections  52   a ,  54   a  for increasing the structural strength of the restriction unit  50 . 
         [0021]    As shown in the drawings, the rib section  52   a  of the second side  52  extends in a direction from the first side  51  to the third side  53  and is downward inclined. The rib section  54   a  of the fourth side  54  extends in a direction from the subsidiary side  56  to the third side  53  and is downward inclined. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the contact plate  60  has a first end  61  and a second end  62 . The first end  61  is connected with the first side  51  of the restriction unit. The second end  62  is an inclined and lifted structure and extends in a direction to contact the conductive component  30 . The switch pushbutton  20  selectively controls the conductive component  30  into electrical contact with the second end  62  of the contact plate or separation from the second end  62 . To speak more specifically, when an operator presses the switch pushbutton  20 , the conductive component  30  is driven into electrical contact with or separation from the contact plate  60  or the second end  62  thereof, whereby the electrical contact  40  is powered on or powered off. 
         [0023]    As shown in the drawings, the metal leaf spring  70  is substantially in the form of a V-shaped body having an opening. The metal leaf spring  70  includes a first section  71 , a second section  72  and a bent section  73  connected between the first and second sections  71 ,  72 . The first section  71  has a head end  74  and an assembling section  75  in the form of a perforation. The assembling section  75  can be assembled on an assembling section  53   a  in the form of a raised section formed on the third side  53  of the restriction unit, whereby the first section  71  of the metal leaf spring is positioned in the space  55  of the restriction unit. Moreover, the head end  74  of the first section  71  of the metal leaf spring and an upper end section of the third side  53  of the restriction unit are together fixed in a recess  13  of the cavity  11  of the case. The bent section  73  of the metal leaf spring is wound on a stake  14  in the cavity  11  of the case, whereby the second section  72  of the metal leaf spring extends into the space  55  of the restriction unit and can swing within the space  55  of the restriction unit. 
         [0024]    In this embodiment, after the metal leaf spring  70  is mounted in the cavity  11  of the case, the opening of the metal leaf spring is directed to the conductive component  30 . In this case, the second section  72  is arranged in such an angle that the conductive wire  90  can be easily plugged and assembled with the case. Moreover, the plug-in direction or angle of the conductive wire  90  is approximately equal to the inclination angle of the first end  61  of the contact plate. Therefore, the conductive wire  90  can contact the first end  61  of the contact plate by larger area than the conventional structure and get closer to the conductive component  30 . This enhances the electrical conduction efficiency and assembling stability. Such structure is obviously different from the a -shaped metal leaf spring or screw mechanism used in the conventional technique for locking and connecting with the conductive wire. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , after an operator directly plugs the conductive wire  90  into the wire socket  12 , the tail end  76  of the second section  72  of the metal leaf spring presses the conductive wire  90  against the first end  61  of the contact plate into electrical contact therewith. At this time, the conductive component  30  is positioned in a position in contact with the second end  62  of the contact plate in a power-on state. When an operator presses the switch pushbutton  20 , the conductive component  30  is moved downward according to the direction of the drawing, whereby the conductive component  30  is separated from the second end  62  of the contact plate into a power-off state. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the metal leaf spring  70  is such received in the restriction unit  50  that at least the second side  52  and the fourth side  54  of the restriction unit together restrict the moving path of the second section  72  of the metal leaf spring so as to prevent the second section  72  from deflecting or swinging to two sides. This helps in enhancing the stability of the move of the metal leaf spring  70  and the assembling of the metal leaf spring  70  with the conductive wire  90 . 
         [0027]    Especially, when plugging the conductive wire  90  into the cavity  11  of the case and the space  55  of the restriction unit  50 , the conductive wire  90  will be restricted in the space  55  of the restriction unit  50  with high hardness. Therefore, the bare metal end of the conductive wire will not thrust or scrape and break the case as happening in the conventional technique. Also, the conductive wire will not swing within the interior of the case by an excessively large angle or twist to stretch open the case due to the operational environment, the operational situation (such as the vibration caused by the operation of the machine or equipment) or a collision due to negligence. 
         [0028]    As shown by the phantom lines of  FIG. 2 , an operator can extend a tool  80  from an operation hole  15  of lower end of the case  10  into the cavity  11  and the space  55  of the restriction unit to push the second section  72  of the metal leaf spring and make the tail end  76  of the second section leave the conductive wire  90 . Under such circumstance, the conductive wire  90  is released from the pressing of the second section  72  of the metal leaf spring, whereby the operator can directly detach the conductive wire  90  from the case  10 . 
         [0029]    In a modified embodiment, according to the configuration of the cavity  11  of the case, the second and fourth sides  52 ,  54  of the restriction unit  50  are formed with notches  52   b ,  54   b  for leaning on a shoulder section  16  formed on the case  10  or the cavity  11 . Under such circumstance, the restriction unit  50  is more securely assembled with the case  10 . 
         [0030]    Please now refer to  FIG. 3 . In a modified embodiment, the restriction unit  50  and the contact plate  60  are formed as an integrated structure. That is, the first end  61  of the contact plate is integrally connected with the first side  51  of the restriction unit. 
         [0031]    Please now refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In a modified embodiment of the electrical contact  40 , according to the assembling form of the case  10  (or the cavity  11 ) and the switch pushbutton  20 , the second end  62  of the contact plate of the electrical contact  40  is bent toward the space  55  of the restriction unit (or the lower side of the drawing or the opening of the metal leaf spring  70 ) and extends to form a subsidiary end  63 . (For example, the second end  62  and the subsidiary end  63  contain an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle). 
         [0032]    The subsidiary end  63  is further bent toward the conductive component  30  or the switch pushbutton  20  and extends to form a tail end  64 . (For example, the subsidiary end  63  and the tail end  64  contain an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle). 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , after an operator operates the switch pushbutton  20  to drive the conductive component  30  to move toward the lower side of the drawing, the conductive component  30  will contact the tail end  64  of the contact plate into a power-on state. When the operator operates the switch pushbutton  20  to drive the conductive component  30  to move toward the upper side of the drawing, the conductive component  30  is separated from the tail end  64  of the contact plate into a power-off state. 
         [0034]    To speak representatively, the switch wire connection device of the present invention meets the trend to miniaturize the switch wire connection terminal device without increasing the volume of the case. In comparison with the conventional device, the switch wire connection device of the present invention has the following advantages:
   1. The case  10 , the switch pushbutton  20 , the conductive component  30 , the restriction unit  50 , the contact plate  60 , the metal leaf spring  70  and the relevant components and structures have been redesigned. For example, the restriction unit  50  has a first side  51 , a second side  52 , a third side  53 , a fourth side  54  and/or a subsidiary side  56 , which together form a frame structure having a space  55  for receiving the metal leaf spring  70 . The metal leaf spring  70  has a first section  71  inlaid or connected with the third side  53  of the restriction unit. The bend section  73  is wound on the stake  14  of the case  10 , whereby the second section  72  is restricted to move within the space  55  of the restriction unit. An operator can directly plug the conductive wire  90  into the cavity  11 . The second section  72  of the metal leaf spring presses the conductive wire  90  against restriction unit. The contact plate  60  has a first end  61  and a second end  62 . The switch pushbutton  20  can selectively control the conductive component  30  into electrical contact with the second end  62  or separation from the second end  62 . The structure of the switch wire connection device of the present invention is obviously different from the conventional device in use and operational form.   2. Especially, according to the conventional device, it is necessary to tighten or untighten the screw for locking or unlocking the wiring circuit or the conductive wire. This is quite troublesome. In addition, when the screw is in a loosened state, the screw is often deflected so that an operator can hardly aim the tool at the screw to drive the screw for locking the conductive wire with the electrical contact. In addition, in the conventional device, an α-shaped metal leaf spring is applied to the insulation case. The insulation case and the electrical contact are respectively formed with guide channels and guide ribs in cooperation with the spring. Such structure is relatively complicated so that the manufacturing cost is increased and the volume of the case is enlarged. Moreover, the vibration caused by the operation of the machine or the equipment will lead to loosening of the screw. As a result, the conductive wire is apt to loosen and detach from the case. The present invention overcomes all the above shortcomings of the conventional device.   3. The electrical contact  40  has higher rigidity or hardness and has good electrical conductivity so that the electrical contact is able to help in fixing the metal leaf spring  70  and guiding the metal leaf spring  70  to move a true path. In addition, the restriction unit  50  serves to correspondingly receive the metal leaf spring  70  and the conductive wire  90 . This facilitates the operation of an operator. In the conventional device, the bare metal end of the conductive wire often thrusts and damages the case and the metal leaf spring often deflects or swings within the interior of the case to scrape and break the case. In addition, the conductive wire can be hardly securely held in the case. The present invention overcomes all the above shortcomings of the conventional device.   
 
         [0038]    In conclusion, the switch wire connection device of the present invention is effective and different from the conventional device in space form. The switch wire connection device of the present invention is inventive, greatly advanced and advantageous over the conventional device. 
         [0039]    The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.