Abstract:
The invention relates to an actuator element ( 1 ) for levering in and out printed circuit modules. Said actuator element comprises an end piece ( 11 ) that is adapted to be linked with a printed circuit module ( 3 ) and an actuator lever ( 12 ). Said actuator lever ( 12 ) is rotatably mounted on the end piece ( 11 ) and comprises at least one handle part ( 122 ) and one locking slide ( 123 ) that can be slid between at least two switch positions (A, B). The locking slide, in a first switch position (A), retains the actuator lever ( 12 ) in a first position (C) that corresponds to a fastened state of the printed circuit module ( 3 ), and releases the actuator lever ( 12 ) in a second switch position (B).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to an operating element, by which printed circuit board modules with electronic circuits can be levered into a support system, or removed therefrom, with little application of force.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Similar operating elements have been employed and are known in various embodiments. A widely used embodiment of such an operating element is taught by European Patent EP 0 330 957 B1. It is called a plug-in and removal aid and is part of a front system for plug-in modules which can be pushed into a module support. The plug-in and removal aid has a lever, which is rotatably seated on an end piece. An operator can operate the plug-in and removal aid with the lever and can effect the levering in or out of the plug-in modules by appropriate pivoting. To achieve these movements, the lever has a groove, the outer edges of which are designed as protrusions. During the levering in or levering out movement, the protrusions are supported on corresponding edges of the module support, in particular on transverse connecting rails of the module support.  
           [0005]    In particular uses, printed circuit board modules which are plugged into a module support can be subjected to special stresses caused by unfavorable environmental conditions. For example, it is possible to apply shaking moments to a component support from the outside. In such a case it is possible for printed circuit board modules which are plugged into the module support to loosen and for the electrical contacts at their plug connectors to be at least partially interrupted. To avoid these problems it is known to design the lever pull handles attached to a front system of a printed circuit board module so they can be locked. A front system for printed circuit boards having such lockable lever pull handles is described in PCT International Application having Publication Number WO 98/34449. A locking slide is seated in the interior of the lever pull handle there, which locks and secures the lever pull handle, and thus the front system and the printed circuit board module, in a position in which they are pushed into the module support. Release, and therefore the opening of a possibility of taking the printed circuit board module out of the module support, such as levering it out, is only possible after operating the integrated locking slide. During this the problem occurs that for unlocking the locking slide it is necessary to exert a pressure force from above on the lever pull handle. This is ergonomically disadvantageous and can limit a rapid unhampered operation of the lever pull handle.  
           [0006]    A similar arrangement is described by German Utility Model DE 298 23 122 U1. An additional, spring-operated bolt is integrated into the levering in and levering out handle. The bolt locks the levering in and levering out handle in a rear end position of the plug-in module, which corresponds to a state where it is inserted into the module support. In this arrangement the bolt is also used for operating, or releasing, a switching element integrated into the levering in and levering out handle. This switching element is used for an active-passive switching of the plug-in module. In this case the plug-in module is switched to passive with the operation of the bolt. The problem, that the operation of the bolt requires a pressing force to be exerted from above, also occurs with this arrangement. This is ergonomically disadvantageous and can limit a rapid unhampered operation of the lever pull handle.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    One object of this invention is to provide an operating element for printed circuit board modules, in particular one into which a spring-operated bolt is integrated, so that it is easier to operate.  
           [0008]    This object is attained with the operating element described in this specification and the claims. One embodiment of this invention relates to a front system for a printed circuit board module having at least one operating element in accordance with this invention, and other embodiments relate to a printed circuit board module with an appropriate front system and to a module support with an appropriate front system.  
           [0009]    The operating element in accordance with this invention has an end piece, which is prepared for being connected to a printed circuit board module, and an operating lever. The operating lever is rotatably seated on the end piece and has at least a handle element and a locking slide, which can be displaced between at least two switching positions. In this case, in a first switching position the locking slide maintains the operating lever in a first position, which corresponds to the levered in state of the printed circuit board module, and releases the operating lever in a second switching position.  
           [0010]    Such an embodiment has one advantage that the operation of a locking slide, in particular one accessible on the top of the handle element, is considerably simplified. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    This invention is explained in greater detail in view of the drawing figures, wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective lateral view of one embodiment of an operating element in accordance with this invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a lateral plan view of a front system for a printed circuit board module, having an operating element in accordance with this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a lateral view of one embodiment of an operating element  1  in accordance with this invention, used for levering in and/or levering out a printed circuit board module  3 . As basic elements, the operating element  1  has an end piece  11 , which is prepared to be connected with a printed circuit board module, and an operating lever  12 , which is rotatably seated on the end piece  11 . In accordance with this invention, the operating lever  12  has at least a handle element  122  and a locking slide  123  which can be displaced between at least two switching positions A and B. In a first switching position A, the operating lever  12  is maintained in a first position C, which corresponds to the levered in state of the printed circuit board module  3 . This position is represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. But in a second switching position B, the operating lever  12  is released by the locking slide  123 . The operating lever  12  can then pivot, or be pivoted, into a second position D. Such a tilted position can correspond to the state when the printed circuit board module  3  is levered out of the module support. In FIG. 1 the positions C and D of the operating lever  12  are represented by an arrow P 2 , and the switching position A and B by an arrow P 1 .  
         [0015]    It is advantageous if the operating lever  12  also has an element  121  for levering in and/or levering out, which is at least partially of a wear-resistant material. This is connected with the handle element  122  and advantageously has a levering in protrusion  1210 , as well as a levering out protrusion  1211 . For causing a levering in, or levering out of the printed circuit board module  3 , the levering in and/or levering out element  121  is supported on the module support. In the examples represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lower transverse connecting rail  4  is shown by way of example as a portion of a module support. It has a perforated rail  401  with a series of engagement holes. When levering in, the levering protrusion  1210  is supported in an engagement hole of the perforated rail  401 , as represented in FIG. 2, while when levering out, the levering out protrusion  1211  is supported on the front face  402  of the perforated rail  401 .  
         [0016]    The end piece  11  of the operating element  1  which, by way of example, is shown in a perspective rear view in FIG. 1 and in a lateral view in FIG. 2, has a support body  110  in its core. The support body  110  has a bore  1101 , which can be used for fastening to a printed circuit board module  3 , for example with a screw. The end piece  11  has a contact pin  1102  which, when a printed circuit board module having an appropriate operating element is inserted, provides a ground contact between the elements. A holding screw  111 , which can engage a transverse groove  400  of the transverse connecting rail  4 , can be provided in the support body  110  for holding a unit inserted into a module support, for example a printed circuit board module with an attached front system having a front plate and preferably two operating elements  1  at the ends. The support body  110  has a bore  1105 . A rotary shaft  13  can be inserted into the bore  1105 , by which the operating lever  12  can be rotatably maintained on the support body  110 . The rotary shaft  13  can simultaneously be located in a bore  1212  of an additional levering in and levering out element  121 . In this case all parts of the operating lever  12  are connected via the rotary shaft  13  with the end piece  11 . Furthermore, a holding groove  1104  for pushing in the lower end of a front plate  2 , represented in part, is advantageously provided. Finally, on its side facing the operating lever  12 , the support body  110  has a detent protrusion  1103 . A corresponding, preferably resilient detent disk  1222  of the operating lever  12  can engage the detent protrusion  1103  when the lever is in the locked-in position.  
         [0017]    A switching element  112 , in particular a microswitch, can be integrated into the end piece  11  of the operating element  1 . The functioning of such a switching element  112 , for example is described by European Patent EP 0 832 547. The locking slide  123  and the switching element  122  are matched to each other so that in the first switching position A the locking slide  123  also activates the switching element  112 .  
         [0018]    In accordance with this invention, the operating lever  12  of the operating element  1  shown in the example of FIG. 1 has a handle element  122  and a levering in and/or levering out element  121 . In this case the handle element  122  has a bore  1223 , the levering in and/or levering out element  121  has a bore  1212 , and the end piece  11  has a bore  1105 . It is possible to conduct a rotary shaft  13  through all bores in such a way that the operating lever  12  is rotatably seated on the end piece  11 . With a rotation it is possible to cause the levering in of a printed circuit board module  3 , connected with the end piece, into a module support, or a levering out of the module support.  
         [0019]    The handle element  122  has a handle head  1220 , which permits an operator to grasp it manually. With the additional transverse bore  1221  at the front end of the handle head  1220 , adjacently located handle elements  122  of several operating elements which are attached to various printed circuit board modules can be mechanically connected so that their synchronous movement is possible. FIG. 1 shows the handle element  122  in a position corresponding to a state of the printed circuit board module  3  when it is levered into a module support. The handle element  122  is also locked together with the end piece  11  in this position with the aid of a detent, because a resilient detent disk  1222  of the handle element  122  engages a detent protrusion  1103  of the end piece  11  from behind. The operating lever  12  is moved back into the position of rest shown in FIG. 1 by an integrated restoring spring  14 , not shown in FIG. 1, when no downward directed force is exerted on the handle element  122 .  
         [0020]    The locking slide  123  of the operating element  1  has an operating slide  1230 , on its top  1224 , which can be displaced on the handle element  122 . Such an arrangement offers good dependability of the grip when manipulating the operating lever. Also, an operating slide  1230  located on the top  1224  of the handle head  122  can be manipulated very easily, for example its different switching positions can be rapidly and dependably set by an operator.  
         [0021]    Ergonomics can be further improved if the handle element  122  in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a depression  1225  on an exterior, in particular on the top  1224 , in which the operating slide  1230  is located in a quasi sunk position and can be displaced. It is advantageous if the operating slide  1230  is as flat as possible, has a depression on the exterior, which can be provided with ribbing.  
         [0022]    For activating an integrated switching element  112 , the locking slide  123  has an additional switching slide  1231  integrated into the handle element  122 . FIG. 2 shows the state in which the switching slide  1231  operates the switching bow  1121  of the switching element  112 . The operating slide  1230  and the switching slide  1231  of the locking slide  123  are arranged approximately perpendicularly in relation to the displacement direction A - B and are connected with each other via a connecting column  1236 . Finally, the operating lever  12  has integrated a spring element  124 , which exert a thrust on the locking slide  123  in the direction of the first switching position A. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 this results in a bias force exerted on the locking slide  123 , in the direction toward the support body  110  of the end piece  11 , and in particular toward the switching bow  1121  of the switching element  112 .