Abstract:
A multi-stage button switch includes a body, an elastic element and a compression element. The compression element has an integrated flexible harness arm. The body has a track zone and a harness portion which is formed with a selected geometric shape to define the moving path of the compression element that includes a start position, a first stage compression position, a compressed position and a second stage compression position in this order. The button switch thus formed consists of fewer elements, is simply structured and can be fabricated and assembled easily.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a multi-stage button switch and particularly to a multi-stage button switch which has a compression element formed with an integrated harness arm. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The multi-stage button switch, in addition to providing the function of a general button switch, also can function as a clip to provide clipping function through an upper portion and a lower portion that form a clipping zone. The clip basically functions by coupling two elements together, or releasing one element through a simple operation. It usually is used on doors, windows and the like. For instance, the door of general electric appliances has a clip. The conventional clips have many types and operate in different ways. The most widely used operation approach is compression. Such an operation includes two stages: A first compression is to couple two elements, and a second compression is to release one of the elements. A desirable clip must be operated simply, offers definite actions and not loosen off easily. The structural design of the elements of the clip directly affects its functionality. 
   R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 568197 entitled “Clip” discloses a clip which has an anchor seat with a housing trough holding a sliding dock which is movable between an upper and a lower detent positions. The upper side of the bottom of the housing trough and the lower surface of the sliding dock have a turnable action bar and a spring extendable upwards. The sliding dock can be compressed twice in the housing trough to form an upper and a lower anchor positions. The action bar pivotally coupled on the bottom of the anchor seat is elastic and deformable. The upper side of the action bar has two opposing and suspending ends. The two ends are located on the surface of two sides of an action plate of the sliding dock. The action plate has bosses on two sides. The two ends can slide and anchor between the bosses. By the elastic driving of the spring, the sliding dock can slide up and down in the housing trough to provide compression operation to function as a clip. 
   R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 221884 entitled “Improved clip” discloses a clip which has a compression portion and a housing portion. The compression portion is formed in T-shape and has a square compression surface on the top mating the housing portion. The compression surface has an indented dimple in the center. The compression portion is coupled with a upright and elastic anchor seat. The elastic anchor seat has a round hole running through the front and rear surfaces. There are two longitudinal notches on the left side and right side of the lower side of the round hole. Between the two notches, there is an elastic anchor member extended from the lower side. The elastic anchor seat has a spring on the bottom. The holding portion has a threading hole on the front side and rear side and an anchor hole on an upper side to hold the elastic anchor seat to slide up and down. The anchor hole has a square opening on the front edge and rear edge. The compression portion has a small anchor button above the round hole of the elastic anchor seat. The square opening of the holding portion has an anchor notch abutting one side running and running through an inner side of the anchor hole. The compression portion may be compressed downward and tilted. The small anchor button can be latched on the anchor notch so that the round hole and the threading hole of the compression portion and the holding portion mate each other to thread a rope. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simply structured multi-stage button switch. According to an embodiment of the invention, the button switch includes a body which has a housing space, an elastic element to receive forces and store a returning elastic force, and a compression element coupled with the elastic element and movable up and down in the housing space. The compression element is formed with an integrated flexible harness arm. The body has a track zone and a harness portion formed in a desired geometric shape to define a moving path of the compression element that includes a start position, a first stage compression position, a compressed position and a second stage compression position. In another embodiment, the compression element has a lower portion to couple with the elastic element and an upper portion coupled with the lower portion. The lower portion and the upper portion form an open condition at the start position. The lower portion and the upper portion form a closed condition at the compressed position to form a clipping zone. By means of the aforesaid structure, the multi-stage button switch of the invention can be formed with fewer elements, provide definite actions, and is easier to fabricate and assemble. 
   The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 3A through 3E  are schematic views an embodiment of the present invention in consecutive operating conditions. 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are schematic views of an embodiment of the present invention in use conditions. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention partly cutaway. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for an embodiment of the invention. It includes a body  10 , an elastic element  20  and a compression element  30 . The body  10  has a housing space to hold the elastic element  20  which can receive forces and store a returning elastic force. The compression element  30  is coupled with the elastic element  20  and movable up and down in the housing space. The compression element  30  has an anchor portion  36  to couple with the elastic element  20 . The body  10  has slots  11  on two side walls abutting the housing space that are corresponding to guiding stubs  31  formed on two sides of the compression element  30 . The compression element  30  can slide in the housing space through the guiding stubs  31  and the slots  11 . The compression element  30  is integrally formed with a flexible harness arm  32 . The body  10  also has a track zone  40  to accommodate the moving path of the harness arm  32  corresponding to the up and down displacement of the compression element  30 . The track zone  40  has a harness portion  41  which is located in a jutting manner in the track zone  40  at a selected height. The harness arm  32  has a retaining end  321  corresponding to the height and confined by the harness portion  41 . The body  10  has an open surface on one side where the track zone  40  is formed. The open surface is covered by a lid  12 . The lid  12  and the body  10  have corresponding lugs  121  and anchor notches  13 . 
   Refer to  FIG. 5  for a side view of an embodiment of the invention. The compression element  30  has a lower portion  33  to couple with the elastic element  20 . The lower portion  33  has a flexible coupling blade  34  on one end that is extended at an inclined angle. The coupling blade  34  is connected to an upper portion  35 . The anchor portion  36  to couple with the elastic element  20  is located on a lower side of the lower portion  33 . The lower portion  33  and the upper portion  35  are opened at a start position. When the compression element  30  is moved in the body  10 , the upper portion  35  is moved close to the lower portion  33  about the coupling blade  34  to form a closed condition and a clipping zone. 
   Refer to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C for an embodiment of the invention in use conditions. When an object A to be clipped is moved along a path P towards the compression element  30  to push the lower portion  33 , the compression element  30  is moved towards the bottom of the body  10 . The upper portion  35  is driven and retracted in the housing space of the body  10  and moved close to the lower portion  33  to form the closed condition and the clipping zone. 
   Refer to  FIGS. 3A through 3E , and  FIGS. 4A through 4C  for the invention in consecutive operating conditions. The compression element  30  can slide in the housing space of the body  10  through the guiding stubs  31  and the slots  11 . As the harness portion  41  is jutting at a selected height in the track zone  40 , and the retaining end  321  of the harness arm  32  is at the corresponding height of the harness portion  41 , the moving path of the compression element  30  and the harness arm  32  is defined by the retaining end  321  moving in the track zone  40  and according to the geometric shape of the harness portion  41 . When the compression element  30  and the harness arm  32  are at the start position (referring to  FIGS. 3A and 4A ), the lower portion  33  and the upper portion  35  are open. When a force is applied and the compression element  30  and the harness arm  32  are moved towards a first stage compression position, the upper portion  35  is retracted in the body  10  and moved close to the lower portion  33  (referring to  FIG. 4B ) to reach the first stage compression position, and the lower portion  33  and the upper portion  35  are closed (referring to  FIG. 3B ). When the force is released, the compression element  30  and the harness arm  32  are moved and anchored on a compressed position via the retaining end  321  moving according to the geometric shape of the harness portion  41  and due to driving of the elastic element  20  (referring to  FIGS. 3C and 4C ). The lower portion  33  and the upper portion  35  are closed to form the clipping zone. When another force is applied on the compression element  30  and the harness arm  32  again, they are moved away from the compressed position to a second stage compression position (referring to  FIG. 3D ). When the another force is released, the retaining end  321  is moved according to the geometric shape of the harness portion  41 , and the compression element  30  is driven by the elastic element  20  to move towards the start position. The upper portion  35  slides outside the body  10  and moves away from the lower portion  33  (referring to  FIG. 3E ). 
   Refer to  FIG. 6  for another embodiment of the invention. The compression element  30   a  may be a switch button. 
   Refer to  FIG. 7  for yet another embodiment of the invention. It is largely constructed like the one previously discussed. However, the body  10   b  has an open surface to allow the compression element  30   b  to be moved up and down. There is a sliding track  14  on the open surface of the body  10   b  and a corresponding guiding flute  37  on a lateral side of the compression element  30   b . The sliding track  14  has a detent portion  141  on an upper end to stop the lower portion  33 . Thus the compression element  30   b  is movable up and down in the housing space of the body  10   b  through the guiding flute  37  and the sliding track  14 . The detent portion  141  can stop the upper edge of the lower portion  33  to prevent the compression element  30   b  from escaping the housing space of the body  10   b.    
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.