Button

The present inventive concept discloses a button which comprising a body, a lighting control unit and a cap. The body comprises a side wall and a base, wherein the side wall of the body is substantially disposed around and protrudes from the base to form a first accommodating space between the base and the side wall of the body; the lighting control unit is disposed in the first accommodating space, and the lighting control unit comprises a UV light-emitting element and a switch, wherein the switch is used for switching on/off the UV light-emitting element; and the cap comprises a side wall and a top, wherein the side wall of the cap is substantially disposed around and protrudes from the top to form a second accommodating space between the top and the side wall of the cap, and the top has a portion corresponding to a position irradiated by light beams of the UV light-emitting element is substantially made of a UV penetrable material, and wherein the cap separably covers at least one of the body or the lighting control unit.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority of Taiwan Application No. 109128816, filed on Aug. 24, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure generally relates to a button, particularly, to a button enabling to disinfect and sanitize itself and the surrounding by UV light.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to improve the convenience, there are plenty of machines with different functions in our daily life, such as elevators, auto doors with buttons, vending machines, ticket vending machines, lights and so on. Most of these devices and equipments have elements, like buttons, which would be touched by users. Buttons on the devices and equipments are usually used by different users. Some users' body parts, like fingers, pressing the buttons or objects, like gloves, touching the buttons may carry pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses, which may affect public health. These buttons would become mediums for the bacteria or viruses. When diseases caused by such bacteria or viruses are outbreak, it is a very essential issue to clean and disinfect these buttons on the devices and equipments.

In order to clean the buttons, the buttons in the elevator could be refitted to be UV-infectious, i.e., ultraviolet light-emitting elements could be installed inside the buttons in the prior art. Whenever the buttons are used by users, the UV light-emitting elements would be driven to be turned on so as to clean and disinfect the buttons.

However, if the above-mentioned UV-infectious buttons were not equipped in the elevators while the elevator was installed, the original buttons have to be replaced by the UV-infectious buttons. This would increase the cost and cause inconvenience of management. Besides, buttons for different elevators may have their own shapes or structures. If the specification of the buttons does not match the requirement of the elevators, it would be difficult to replace the original buttons to the UV-infectious ones. Moreover, the above-mentioned UV-infectious buttons have to be installed and electrically connected to and powered by the power system of the elevators. Therefore, the UV-infectious buttons have to be installed and maintained by professional technicians.

In addition to using the UV-infectious buttons in the elevators, it depends on the designs of other devices or equipments if the UV-infectious buttons can be installed for those devices or equipments. In fact, the design is rarely seen in those devices or equipments. One of the main reasons is that not all buttons can be replaced independently or easily and this is why the UV-infectious buttons are not common.

Therefore, it is an urgent problem to be solved in this industry that how to provide a button capable of sanitizing and disinfection can be mobile and can be used by users easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of solving the foregoing problems of the prior art, the present inventive concept provides a button. The button comprises a body, a lighting control unit and a cap. The body comprises a side wall and a base, wherein the side wall of the body is substantially disposed around and protrudes from the base to form a first accommodating space between the base and the side wall of the body. The lighting control unit is disposed in the first accommodating space, and the lighting control unit comprises an ultraviolet light-emitting element (UV light-emitting element) and a switch, wherein the switch is used for switching on/off the UV light-emitting element. The cap comprises a side wall and a top, wherein the side wall of the cap is substantially disposed around and protrudes from the top to form a second accommodating space between the top and the side wall of the cap, and the top has a portion corresponding to a position irradiated by light beams of the UV light-emitting element is substantially made of a UV penetrable material, and wherein the cap separably covers at least one of the body or the lighting control unit.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the top of the cap has a portion corresponding to the switch is substantially made of an elastic material.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the side wall of the body has a first connection part located outside the side wall of the body and the side wall of the cap has a second connection part located inside the side wall of the cap, wherein the second connection part and the first connection part are connected to each other separably.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the side wall of the body has a first connection part located inside the side wall of the body and the side wall of the cap has a second connection part located outside the side wall of the cap, wherein the second connection part and the first connection part are connected to each other separably.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the base of the body or the side wall of the body further comprises a first locating part inside the base of the body or inside the side wall of the body and the lighting control unit further comprises a second locating part, wherein the second locating part and the first locating part joint to each other separably.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the button further comprises an electric power unit which is electrically connected to the UV light-emitting element and the switch, and the electric power unit is used for supplying electric power required by the operation of the UV light-emitting element and the switch.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lighting control unit further comprises a fastening member, wherein the electric power unit is fastened to the lighting control unit by the fastening member.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the base of the body or the side wall of the body further comprises a first locating part located inside the base of the body or inside the side wall of the body and the lighting control unit further comprises a second locating part, wherein the second locating part and the first locating part joint to each other separably, and wherein the second locating part is further a pin of the lighting control unit, which is used for electrically connected to a positive electrode terminal or a negative electrode terminal of the electric power unit.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the button further comprises an adhesive member disposed outside the base of the body.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lighting control unit further comprises a timer module, wherein the timer module is electrically connected to the switch and used for controlling time cycle of the on/off state of the UV light-emitting element according a preset operation mode of the switch.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the button further comprises an indicating member disposed inside or outside the top of the cap.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, wherein the base of the body further comprises a holding part disposed outside the base of the body.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the side wall of the cap further comprises two through holes disposed outside the side wall of the cap and a preset spacing is between the two through holes.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the side wall of the body further comprises a groove disposed outside the side wall of the body corresponding to a position where the two through holes are disposed outside the side wall of the cap.

Compared to the conventional prior art, users may press the top of the cap of the button of the present inventive concept to switch on the UV light-emitting element to emit UV light by the lighting control unit disposed in the body and the cap, so that the UV light may sanitize and disinfect the cap of the button. Moreover, the button could comprise an electric power unit. It is not necessary for the button of the present inventive concept to connect an external power supply. The button of the present inventive concept may function as a sole device and can be used anywhere and in any circumstances as required. The button of the present inventive concept may comprise an adhesive member and an indicating member. Users may attach the button of the present inventive concept to the original button, which would keep the function of the original button and provide a clean button to be pressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventive concept is described by the following specific embodiments. Those with ordinary skills in the arts can readily understand other advantages and functions of the present inventive concept after reading the disclosure of this specification. Any changes or adjustments made to their relative relationships, without modifying the substantial technical contents, are also to be construed as within the range implementable by the present inventive concept.

Moreover, the word “exemplary” or “embodiment” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as exemplary or an embodiment is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word “exemplary” or “embodiment” is intended to present concepts and techniques in a concrete fashion.

Please refer toFIG.1which is a parts breakdown schematic view of a button according to the present inventive concept. As shown inFIG.1, the button of the present inventive concept comprises a body1, a lighting control unit2and a cap3. The body1comprises a side wall10and a base11, wherein the side wall10of the body1is substantially disposed around and protrudes from the base11to form a first accommodating space100between the base11and the side wall10of the body1. The lighting control unit2may be disposed in the first accommodating space100, and the lighting control unit2comprises an ultraviolet light-emitting element (UV light-emitting element)21and a switch22, wherein the switch22is used for switching on/off the UV light-emitting element21. The cap3comprises a side wall30and a top31, wherein the side wall30of the cap31is substantially disposed around and protrudes from the top31to form a second accommodating space300between the top31and the side wall30of the cap3, and the cap3separably covers at least one of the body1or the lighting control unit2in order to change or repair the lighting control unit2or any element connected to the lighting control unit2.

In this embodiment, the internal cross section area surrounded by the side wall30of the cap3may be larger or substantially equal to the external cross section area surrounded by the side wall10of the body1, so that the cap3separably covers the body1and the lighting control unit2. In another embodiment, the internal cross section area surrounded by the side wall30of the cap3may be smaller or substantially equal to the external cross section area surrounded by the side wall10of the body1, so that the cap3separably covers the lighting control unit2by the body1coupling to the cap3.

In this embodiment, the top31has at least a portion corresponding to a position irradiated by light beams of the UV light-emitting element21is substantially made of a UV penetrable material, so that UV light emitted by the UV light-emitting element21may sanitize and disinfect the top31to reduce the amount of bacteria or viruses on the top31.

In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the top31of the cap3has at least a portion corresponding to the switch22may be substantially made of an elastic material. The elastic material may be, but not limited to, for example plastics, resins or silicone, such as PP, PE, PC, PS, ABS, PA(Nylon), thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) or thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) or the like. When the body1, the lighting control unit2and the cap3are set together as shown inFIG.2A, users may press the top31at the position corresponding to where the switch22is disposed as shown inFIG.2Bto switch on/off the switch22, so that the UV light-emitting element may be turned on to emit UV light like the arrows shown inFIG.2Bor to be turned off. In this embodiment, preferably, the portion of the top31corresponding to where the switch22is disposed may has a thinness which may be about 0.5 mm, but not limited to it. The thickness may be adjusted by the chosen materials, the predetermined feels of the rebound for the button and/or the requirement of mistouch prevention.

Please further refer toFIG.1. The internal cross section area surrounded by the side wall30of the cap3may be larger or substantially equal to the external cross section area surrounded by the side wall10of the body1, so that the cap3may separably cover the body1and the lighting control unit2. In this embodiment, preferably, the side wall10of the body1may have a first connection part101located outside the side wall10of the body1and the side wall30of the cap3may have a second connection part301located inside the side wall30of the cap3, wherein the second connection part301and the first connection part101may be connected to each other separably.

The internal cross section area surrounded by the side wall30of the cap3may be smaller or substantially equal to the external cross section area surrounded by the side wall10of the body1, so that the cap3separably covers the lighting control unit2by the body1coupling to the cap3. In this embodiment, the first connection part101may be located inside the side wall10of the body1and correspondingly the second connection part301may be located outside the side wall30of the cap3, and the second connection part301and the first connection part101may be connected to each other separably (not shown in the figures).

As shown inFIG.1, in an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the base11of the body1may further comprise a first locating part111inside the base11of the body1and the lighting control unit2may further comprise a second locating part23, wherein the second locating part23and the first locating part111may joint to each other separably. By the structures of the first locating part111and the second locating part23, users may dispose the lighting control unit2properly at the base11of the body1easily and prevent the lighting control unit2being moved unwillingly in use. In another embodiment of the present inventive concept, the first locating part111may be disposed inside the side wall10of the body1and the lighting control unit2may further comprise a second locating part23disposed at the position corresponding to the first locating part111(not shown in the figures).

As shown inFIG.1, in an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the button may further comprise an electric power unit4. The electric power unit4may be electrically connected to the UV light-emitting element21and the switch22. The electric power unit4may be used for supplying electric power required by the operation of the UV light-emitting element21and the switch22. In another embodiment of the present inventive concept, preferably, the lighting control unit2may further comprise a fastening member24, wherein the electric power unit4may be fastened to the lighting control unit2by the fastening member24. More preferably, the base11of the body1may further comprise a first locating part111located inside the base11of the body1and the lighting control unit2may further comprise a second locating part23, wherein the second locating part23and the first locating part111may joint to each other separably. In this embodiment, the second locating part23may further be a pin of the lighting control unit2which is used for electrically connected to a positive electrode terminal or a negative electrode terminal of the electric power unit4. In this embodiment, the second locating part23may be, for example, a conductive metal spring contact, but not limited to. In other words, the second locating part23may be used for conducting electric current and jointing to the first locating part111.

Please further refer toFIG.1. The button of the present inventive concept may further comprise an adhesive member5. The adhesive member5may be disposed outside the base of the body. Preferably, the adhesive member5may be, for example, transparent or non-transparent glue or tape.

Please refer toFIG.3. In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the base11of the body1may further comprise a holding part112. As shown inFIG.3, the holding part1may be a strip structure disposed outside the base11of the body1and there is a groove in the middle of the two sides of the strip structure for users to hold to separate the combined cap3and body1.

Please refer toFIG.1again. In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the side wall30of the cap3may further comprise two through holes302disposed outside the side wall30of the cap3with a preset spacing between the two through holes302. In this embodiment, a sling or a rope may be disposed through the two through holes302for users to carry the button of the present inventive concept easily. Preferably, the side wall10of the body1may further comprise a groove113disposed outside the side wall10of the body1corresponding to a position where the two through holes302are disposed outside the side wall30of the cap3to accommodate the knot in the sling or the rope at the two through holes302.

Please refer toFIG.4. In an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lighting control unit2may further comprise a timer module25. The timer module25may be electrically connected to the switch22and used for controlling time cycle of the on/off state of the UV light-emitting element21according a preset operation mode of the switch22. In an embodiment, the preset time circle may be that the UV light-emitting element21turn on for 5 seconds by users pressing the switch22once to disinfect the cap3. Alternatively, the preset time circle may be that the UV light-emitting element21turn on for 20 seconds by users pressing the switch22twice to disinfect any object.

Please refer toFIG.1again. In another embodiment, the button of the present inventive concept may further comprise an indicating member6. The indicating member6may be disposed inside or outside the top31of the cap3. In an embodiment, the indicating member6may be, for example, self-adhesive or electrostatic adhesive and any required numbers, texts or symbols may be printed on the indicating member.

As describe above, in another embodiment, the button of the present inventive concept may be equipped with the indicating member6printed with numbers of floors or texts, such as open/close and stuck on the original button of an elevator. When users press the button of the present inventive concept to operate the elevator, the UV light-emitting element21would turn on to sanitize and disinfect the top31of the cap3for a certain time to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria by the button.

In summary, the button of the present inventive concept comprises a lighting control unit in the body and the cap. Users may press the top of the cap of the button of the present inventive concept to turn on the UV light-emitting element of the lighting control unit, so that the emitted UV light may sanitize and disinfect the top of the cap. Moreover, the button could comprise an electric power unit, so it is not necessary for the button of the present inventive concept to connect an external power supply. The button of the present inventive concept may function as a sole device and can be used anywhere and in any circumstances as required. The button of the present inventive concept may comprise an adhesive member and an indicating member. Users may attach the button of the present inventive concept to the original button, which would maintain the function of the original button and provide a clean button to be pressed.

The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present inventive concept and not restrictive of the scope of the present inventive concept. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present inventive concept should fall within the scope of the appended claims.