Push-button arrangement for an electric torch

The invention relates to a push-button arrangement with a housing, a housing opening, a press switch element, a pushbutton facing out of the housing opening, and an elastically deformable hood or cap. The hood or cap has a hood edge which engages from the rear with the opening, and has an inner wall and an insertion ring. The insertion ring has an insertion height and an angular outer ring wall which can be adapted to the inner wall of the cap, and which can be completely received in the hood between the inner hood wall and the pushbutton, and which diameter can be elastically varied section by section along the height of the insertion ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a pushbutton arrangement, especially for flashlights.

Pushbutton arrangements, especially for flashlights, are known in the state of the art. An elastically deformable hood or cap is inserted into a housing opening in the known flashlights. A pressure switching element with a pushbutton is located on the inside of the housing and the pushbutton can be actuated from outside of the flashlight housing via the hood. The pushbutton arrangements according to the state of the art have the disadvantage that the pushbuttons are designed as individual parts and after they have been inserted into the housing opening they can be readily removed again from the housing opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the task of improving the known pushbutton arrangements.

This task is solved by a pushbutton arrangement with a housing, a housing opening, a pressure switching element, with a pushbutton facing out of the housing opening, with an elastically deformable hood or cap with a hood edge extending behind the housing opening and with a cylindrical inner wall, with an insertion ring, an insertion-ring height (elevation or level) and an outer ring wall that can fit against the inner wall of the hood and that can be completely received in the hood between the inner hood wall and the pushbutton and whose diameter can be elastically varied section by section (e.g. by sectors, or in stages) along the height of the insertion ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The pushbutton arrangement of the invention comprises an insertion ring that can be introduced into the hood or cap in such a manner that the outer ring wall rests on the inner hood wall. Basically, an only punctiform contact between the outer ring wall and the inner hood wall is also conceivable. The diameter of the insertion ring can be elastically varied section by section. The insertion ring of the invention makes it distinctly difficult to remove the elastically deformable hood out of the housing opening. During an attempt to remove the hood out of the housing opening the hood is grasped on its part projecting out of the housing and is pressed together. The elastically variable insertion ring yields under the pressure exerted on the hood and varies its diameter section by section.

The insertion ring preferably comprises an edge on the hood side and an edge on the hood-opening side and recesses emanating from the edge on the hood side and from the edge on the hood-opening side.

In this preferred embodiment the insertion ring is preferably designed in one piece of elastic plastic. The recesses make it possible to elastically vary the diameter of the insertion ring section by section along its ring height. The diameter of the edge on the side of the hood opening can be automatically enlarged by pressing together the edge on the hood side and the diameter reduction of the insertion ring associated with this edge in this section.

The recesses advantageously emanate in an alternating manner from the edge on the hood side and the edge on the hood-opening side in the direction of the particular other edge.

This especially advantageous embodiment of the invention also makes it possible to vary the diameter of the insertion ring section by section and has the particular effect that a reduction of the diameter of the edge on the hood side can result in an enlargement of the diameter of the edge on the hood-opening side. The insertion ring thus produces a clamping action between the housing opening and the edge on the hood-opening side and clamps the hood fast during the removal of the elastically deformable hood out of the housing opening by enlarging the diameter of the edge on the hood-opening side. This makes it distinctly difficult to remove the elastically deformable hood out of the housing opening.

The hood edge on the housing-opening side is preferably conformed to the profile of the inner housing wall in the area of the housing opening. In this preferred embodiment a rotating of the hood in the housing opening is rendered difficult.

The hood or cap preferably comprises a stop for the pushbutton on an inner wall facing away from the hood opening. The pushbutton is preferably not visible on the outside of the housing and can be actuated only via the hood. When a user pressed the hood in, he intends to actuate the pushbutton and to cut in or out therewith the pressure switching element, especially of a flashlight. The stop optimizes the transfer of force from the hood onto the pushbutton.

The stop is preferably designed as a short, solid cylinder whose outer stop wall runs concentrically to the cylindrical inner hood wall and a groove is arranged for receiving the hood-side edge between the outer stop wall and the cylindrical inner hood wall.

The inner hood wall preferably has a basically cylindrical design. The preferred embodiment cited makes it possible to receive the insertion ring in the hood interior in an especially advantageous manner.

The invention is described in the following in an exemplary embodiment with reference made to the figures.

FIG. 1shows insertion ring1comprising insertion-ring height H. Insertion ring1consist of a circumferential rectangular band formed in that recesses4emanate alternatingly from a hood-side edge2and a hood-opening side edge3in the direction of the particular other edge. Insertion ring1has a diameter that is constant along insertion-ring height H in its unexpanded normal position.

FIG. 2shows insertion ring1in accordance withFIG. 1in an elastically deformed position. The ring diameter is varied or altered section by section along the height of the insertion ring in comparison to the ring diameter in the normal position. In the present figure edge3of insertion ring1on the hood-opening side has a greater diameter than insertion ring1in the normal position and hood-side edge2has a smaller diameter than the diameter of insertion ring1in the normal position.

FIG. 3shows an outer view of hood5. Insertion ring1is completely received in hood5. Hood5has hood edge6that is adapted on the housing-opening side to the profile of an inner housing wall.

FIG. 4shows pushbutton arrangement7of the invention built into a flashlight. Pushbutton arrangement7is arranged between flashlight head8and battery housing9. Pushbutton arrangement7has a housing10with housing opening11. Housing10is designed in the present instance as a transitional section between battery housing9and flashlight head8. Pressure switching element12is arranged inside the flashlight. Pressure switching element12is firmly clamped in housing13for the pressure switching element and is fixed therewith in its position relative to the flashlight. Pushbutton14of pressure switching element12faces outward through housing opening11and extends partially through the housing opening. Hood5in accordance withFIG. 3is inserted into housing opening11and an outer wall of the hood contacts housing opening11circumferentially thereby. Hood edge6extends behind housing opening11. Hood5has an integrally formed stop15on an inner wall facing away from the hood opening. Stop15cooperates with pushbutton14and transfers the force acting from the outside onto pushbutton14. Hood opening16is located on housing13of the pressure switching element. Stop15is designed as a short, solid cylinder. Its outer wall is formed concentrically to cylindrical inner hood wall17. Groove13runs between the outer stop wall and cylindrical inner hood wall17. Hood-side edge2of insertion ring1is received in groove18.

Insertion ring1makes it difficult to loosen hood5out of housing opening11. On the one hand, insertion ring1is less elastic than hood5and on the other hand, edge3of insertion ring1, which edge is on the hood-opening side, is increased in its diameter by compression hood-side edge2of insertion ring1. The increasing of the diameter of edge3of insertion ring1, which edge is on the hood-opening side, results in a clamping action between housing opening11and insertion ring1as regards hood5. During an attempt to pull hood5out of housing opening11, hood-side edge2of insertion ring1is compressed and hood5held fast in housing10by the clamping action, as described above.