Abstract:
An operating element having an end piece, which is arranged for connecting to a printed circuit board and a front plate. An operating lever is rotatably mounted on the end piece. The operating lever has at least one grip section and one on and/or off lever piece, which are at least partly made from a wear-resistant material. Such a design has the particular advantage that part of the operating element which performs an on and/or off lever action, the on and/or off lever piece, opposite the section of the operating element to manipulate, the handle, is at least partly made from a wear-resistant material. The complete unit is thus rendered significantly more robust without sacrificing ergonomics of the grip piece.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to an operating element, by which printed circuit board modules with electronic circuits can be levered into or removed from a support system, with little application of force. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Similar operating elements have been employed for a considerable length of time and are known in various conventional 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 actuate the plug-in and removal aid by 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. 
   In connection with particular uses, the elements of an operating element, in particular those which take part in the levering in and/or levering out of a printed circuit board module, can be subjected to special stresses. This can be because of many repeated levering in and out processes. Also, special stresses can occur because it is necessary to overcome particularly high plug-in or pulling forces during the levering in or levering out process of a printed circuit board module. These can be the result of plug connectors which are attached to an edge of the printed circuit board module, and which have a large number of contact poles. Because of the increasing integration of electronic components and the increase in bit widths of digital data busses, the numbers of poles of plug connectors, in particular on printed circuit board modules supporting digital processors, show increasing values. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One object of this invention is to provide an operating element for printed circuit board modules, so that they can also withstand higher stresses. 
   This object is achieved by the operating element defined in the specification and the claims. Other embodiments of the operating element are disclosed in the specification and in the dependent claims. This invention relates to a method for producing the operating element and to a front system for a printed circuit board module equipped with at least one operating element, and also to a printed circuit board module with an appropriate front system, and finally relate to a module support with an appropriate front system. 
   An operating element in accordance with this invention has an end piece, which is prepared for connection to a printed circuit board module, and an operating lever, which is rotatably seated on the end piece. The operating lever has a handle element and an element for levering in and/or levering out, which at least partially is made of a wear-resistant material. 
   Such an embodiment has one advantage that a portion of the operating element in accordance with this invention which causes the levering in and/or levering out, such as the element for levering in and/or levering out, is at least partially made of a wear-resistant material, in contrast to the element intended for operating the operating element in accordance with this invention, such as the handle element. Thus the entire operating element becomes considerably more robust with respect to special stresses, without sacrificing the ergonomics of the handle element appearing. 
   It is particularly advantageous if the handle element is made of an ergonomically easily moldable material, such as a material by which ergonomic designs of the handle element can be produced, such as shapes and surfaces, which are simple, dependable and pleasant to touch for a person. Resilient materials are also particularly advantageous for the handle element, for example rubber-like materials, by which further requirements, such as the reduction of a possible risk of injuries, or adaptation to disadvantageous installation conditions, can also be met in addition to ergonomics. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     This invention is explained in greater detail in view of the drawing figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a lateral view of a basic embodiment of an operating element in accordance with this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded lateral view of a front system for a printed circuit board module with a first exemplary embodiment of an operating element in accordance with this invention, in an exploded view, and a section of a component support, wherein an element for levering in and levering out is embodied as a die-cast element; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded lateral view of main elements of an operating element in accordance with this invention in a second embodiment, wherein the element for levering in and levering out is embodied as a bent plate element; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded lateral view of main elements of an operating element in accordance with this invention in a third embodiment, wherein the element for levering in and levering out has two separate engagement elements; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded lateral view of main elements of an operating element in accordance with this invention in a fourth embodiment, wherein the element for levering in and levering out has two separate engagement elements, which can be connected with the handle element by support pins; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective lateral view of the operating element in accordance with  FIG. 5  in the assembled state of the elements; 
       FIG. 7  is a lateral view of a further embodiment of an operating element in accordance with this invention, wherein the handle element has a handle head which projects toward the front; 
       FIG. 8  is a lateral view of a further embodiment of an operating element in accordance with this invention, wherein the handle element has an upward projecting handle head; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective exploded lateral view of main elements of an operating element in accordance with this invention in a further embodiment, wherein the element for levering in and levering out has an engagement element with a support plate attached in a T-shape to the top. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  represents a lateral view of a basic embodiment of an operating element  1  in accordance with this invention, used for levering in and/or levering out a printed circuit board module. As basic elements, it 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 . The operating lever  12  has an element  121  for levering in and/or levering out, which is at least partially made of a wear-resistant material, and a handle element  122 , which is connected with the element  121  for levering in and/or levering out. 
   The end piece  11  of the operating element  1  essentially comprises a support body  110  which has a bore  1101  that can be used for fastening it on a printed circuit board, for example with a screw. The end piece  11  also has a contact pin  1102 , which provides a ground contact between the elements when a printed circuit board module, which has an appropriate operating element  1 , is pushed into a module support. A holding screw  111  can be provided in the support body  110  for holding a unit, which is pushed into a printed circuit board module, in place and has, for example, a printed circuit board module with a front system attached, which has a front plate and preferably two operating elements  1  at the ends. The support body  110  preferably has a bore  1105 . A rotary shaft  13  can be inserted into the bore  1105 , by which the operating lever  12  is rotatably seated on the support body  110 . Also, a holding groove  1104  for pushing in the lower end of a front plate  2 , shown in part, is advantageously provided. Finally, the support body  110  has a detent protrusion  1103  on its side facing the operating lever  12 . When the operating lever  12  is in a snapped-in position, an appropriate, preferably resilient detent disk  1222  can engage the detent protrusion. 
   A microswitch  112  can be integrated into the end piece  11  of the operating element  1  together with an associated holding plug  1120 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The function of such a microswitch  112  is described in European Patent EP 0 832 547. 
   In accordance with the 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 so 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. 
   The handle element  122  has a handle head  1220 , which permits an operator to grasp it manually. An additional corrugation  1224  of the surface increases the dependability of the manipulation. 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 additionally locked together in this position with the end piece  11  with the aid of detent means, in that 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, as shown in  FIG. 1 , by a restoring spring  14 , not shown in  FIG. 1 , when no downward directed force is exerted on the handle element  122 . 
   In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the levering in and/or levering out element  121  is inserted into the handle element  122  which surrounds the levering in and/or levering out element  121  quasi from above. In the example represented, the levering in and/or levering out element  121  also includes a levering-in protrusion  1210 , as well as a levering-out protrusion  1211 , wherein at least these elements are made of a wear-resistant material. Thus, it is possible with the operating lever  12  to perform the levering in, as well as the levering out, of the printed circuit board module  3 . With other embodiments it is also possible for a levering in and/or levering out element  121  to be designed so that only the levering in, or the levering out is performed with it. In connection with the example of  FIG. 1  this can mean that only one levering-in protrusion  1210  or only one levering-out protrusion  1211  exists. 
   One advantage of the embodiment in accordance with this invention of the operating element  1  is that only the elements of the operating lever  12  which are particularly stressed in during levering in or levering out processes, such as the levering in and/or levering out element  121 , is made of a wear-resistant material, while all remaining elements, in particular the handle element  122 , can be made of materials which are more easily shaped or designed, such as of a plastic material. The material can preferably be selected so that it can be easily shaped ergonomically. In another embodiment the handle element  122  of the operating lever  12  can be made of a resilient material, in particular of rubber or another elastomer. 
   As previously explained, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , all parts of the operating element  1  are connected with each other via a common rotary shaft  13 . In a different embodiment of the operating element  1 , the handle element  122  and the levering in and/or levering out element  121  of the operating lever  12  can also be permanently connected with each other. The handle element  122  and the levering in and/or levering out element  121  can advantageously also be connected in one piece with each other. It is also advantageous if the handle element  122  of the operating element  1  is formed as one piece on the levering in and/or levering out element, in particular by injection molding. Again, an elastomeric material is particularly advantageously suited for this purpose. 
     FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a front system in accordance with this invention for a printed circuit board module  3  in a perspective exploded lateral view, along with a further exemplary embodiment of an operating element  1   a  in accordance with this invention. A module support is also partially illustrated. The partial view shows an area of a lower transverse connecting rail  4  having a series of engagement holes  400 . The levering-in and levering-out protrusions  121   a   3 ,  121   a   4 , which are made of a wear-resistant material, enter into the protrusions  121   a   3 ,  121   a   4  or grasp it when the printed circuit board module  3  is levered-in, or levered out, during the actuation of the operating lever  12   a . In the process, the levering-out protrusions  121   a   4  are supported on the exterior of the transverse connecting rail  4 , while the levering-in protrusions  121   a   3  are supported in the interior of the engagement holes  400 . Furthermore, the portion of a transverse connecting rail  4  of a module support represented in  FIG. 2  has a transverse groove  401 . A holding screw  111  for fixing the front plate in place can be screwed into it. 
   The front system for the printed circuit board module  3  represented in  FIG. 2  has a partially shown front plate  2 . An operating element  1   a  is attached to its lower end  20 . A corresponding operating element is also attached to the upper end  21  of the front plate  2 , but is not shown in  FIG. 2 . The front system is attached to a printed circuit board module  3 , also only partially represented. The operating element  1   a  in  FIG. 2  has an end piece  11 , which corresponds to the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , and an operating lever  12   a  including a levering in and/or levering out element  121   a  and a handle element  122   a . The printed circuit board module  3  can be levered-in or levered-out of a module support which has at least one corresponding transverse connecting rail  4 . 
   The handle element  121   a  of the operating element  1   a  is made of plastic, for example, and has a protruding handle head  122   a   3 , from which first and second flanks  122   a   1 ,  122   a   2  extend downward. It is possible to make the connection of the handle element  122   a  with the levering in and/or levering out element  121   a  easier, because the lateral flanks  122   a   1 ,  122   a   2  enclose the levering in and/or levering out element  121   a  for improved guidance when the handle element  121   a  is placed on the levering in and/or levering out element  121 , or the levering in and/or levering out element  121  is inserted into the handle element  122   a . Again, a rotary shaft  13  can be inserted through the bores  122   a   5  for connecting the elements. The handle element  121   a  also has resilient detent disks  122   a   4 . 
   The levering in and/or levering out element  121   a  of the operating element  1   a  represented in  FIG. 2  has two engagement elements  121   a   1  and  121   a   2 , which are arranged next to each other. Each one of these engagement elements has a separate group of levering-in and levering-out protrusions  121   a   3 ,  121   a   4 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , the two engagement elements  121   a   1 ,  121   a   2  are advantageously connected with each other in one piece by a connecting element  121   a   5 . The connecting element  121   a   5  has a holding blade  121   a   6  as an extension which, when the handle element  122   a  is attached, dives into the space between the flanks  122   a   1 ,  122   a   2  and can be held in place there, possibly with additionally provided elements. The levering in and/or levering out element  121  in  FIG. 2  is advantageously a die-cast element, in particular made of aluminum and/or zinc. The engagement elements  121   a   1 ,  121   a   2  also have bores  121   a   7  for the insertion of a rotary shaft  13 . 
     FIG. 3  represents a perspective exploded lateral view of main elements of an operating lever  12   b  for an operating element in accordance with this invention, in a further embodiment. In this case the associated levering in and/or levering out element  121   b  has a first and a second engagement element  121   b   1 ,  121   b   2  arranged so they are located approximately parallel next to each other. Each engagement element  121   b   1 , or  121   b   2 , has a complete group  121   b   3 , or  121   b   4 , of levering-in and levering-out protrusions. Each of the engagement elements has a bore  121   b   7  for a rotary shaft, by which the levering in and/or levering out element  121   b  can be combined into one operating element with the handle element  122   a  and an end piece  11 . The handle element  122   a  is similar to the embodiment described in view of  FIG. 2 . 
   In the example of  FIG. 3 , the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   b  is embodied as a punched-and-bent element, in particular made of sheet metal. In this case the total arrangement of the parallel engagement elements  121   b   1 ,  121   b   2  and a connecting back  121   b   5 , which connects the latter in one piece, is created from an originally flat sheet metal piece, made into the U-shaped structure in  FIG. 3  by appropriate bending. In such embodiment, bulges  121   b   8  in the material usually occur at the transitions between the engagement elements  121   b   1 ,  121   b   2  and the connecting back  121   b   5 . These can be used for improving the fixation of the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   b  in the handle element  122   a , after placed on the former. 
     FIG. 4  shows a perspective lateral exploded view of the main elements of an operating lever  12   c  for an operating element in accordance with this invention in a further embodiment. Here, the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   c  has two separate engagement elements  121   c   1 ,  121   c   2 , each of which has a separate group of levering-in and levering-out protrusions. The engagement elements  121   c   1 ,  121   c   2  are embodied as punched-and-bent elements, for example. So that they can be positioned lying approximately parallel next to each other, each engagement element  121   c   1 , or  121   c   2 , has an extension in the form of a clamping strip  121   c   5 , or  121   c   6 . To hold them in place, the associated handle element  122   c  has corresponding holding elements  122   c   5 ,  122   c   6 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , these are embodied as clamping brackets  122   c   5 ,  122   c   6  and are attached to the insides of a first and second flank  122   c   1 ,  122   c   2  of the handle element  122   c . The clamping strips of the engagement elements  121   c   1 ,  121   c   2  can be inserted knife-like in receiver spaces, which are formed between the insides of the respective flank and the corresponding clamping brackets on the underside of the protruding handle head  122   c   3  of the handle element  122   c . Thus it is possible to connect the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   c  with the handle element  122   c  to form the operating lever  12   c , even without the aid of a rotary shaft. In the example of  FIG. 4 , the engagement elements  121   c   1 ,  121   c   2  have bores  121   c   7 ,  121   c   8  and the flanks  122   c   1 ,  122   c   2  of the handle element  122   c  have bores  122   c   7 ,  122   c   8  for a rotary shaft. Thus the entire operating lever  12   c  can be fixed in place on an end piece  11 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a perspective lateral view of the main elements of an operating lever  12   d  for an operating element in accordance with a further embodiment. Again, the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   d  has two separate engagement elements  121   d   1 ,  121   d   2 , which are embodied as die-cast elements made of zinc or aluminum. Each one again has a separate group  121   d   3 ,  121   d   4  of levering-in and levering-out protrusions. Respectively, two support pins  121   d   9  are formed on the inside of each of the engagement elements  121   d   1 ,  121   d   2 , for example. The engagement elements  121   d   1 ,  121   d   2  can be connected with an associated handle element  122   d  with the aid of the support pins. The handle element  122   d  is made of plastic, for example, and has a support bracket  122   d   1  located underneath the protruding handle head  122   d   3 . Moreover, contact faces  122   d   5  are created on both sides of the underside of the handle head  122   d   3 . These rest on the tops of resting strips  121   d   5 ,  121   d   6  of the engagement elements  121   d   1 ,  121   d   2  during assembly. During this their support pins  121   d   9  engage corresponding receiver openings  122   d   2  in the support bracket  122   d   1  of the handle element  122   d.    
     FIG. 6  shows a perspective lateral view of all elements in  FIG. 5  in an assembled state. Here, the handle element  122   a  of the operating lever  12   a  rests on the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   a , while the engagement elements  121   d   1 ,  121   d   2  extend around the support bracket  122   d   1 . Finally, the engagement elements  121   d   1 ,  121   d   2  again have bores  121   d   7 ,  121   d   8  for a rotary shaft  13 . 
     FIG. 7  represents a lateral view of a further embodiment of an operating element le in accordance with this invention, wherein the handle element  122   e , which is made of plastic, for example, of the associated operating lever  12   e  has a handle head  122   e   1 , which greatly projects toward the front. The left side of the handle head  122   e   1  terminates in a T-shaped front element  122   e   2 , into which lettering elements  122   e   3 , for example, can be inserted. A rotary shaft for holding an element for levering in and/or levering out  121   e , made of a wear-resistant material and located in the interior, can again be inserted through receiver bores  122   e   4  in the handle element  122   e . The element has at least one engagement element  121   e   1 , which has a levering-in protrusion  121   e   3  for performing a levering in action, and a levering-out back  121   e   3  for performing a levering out action. A rotary shaft  13  can be inserted through a bore  121   e   4  for connection with the end piece  11 . This substantially corresponds to the design explained by  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 8  represents a lateral view of a further embodiment of an operating element  1   f  in accordance with this invention. In this case the operating lever  12   f  has a handle element  122   f  with an upright handle body  122   f   1  and a tapered handling depression  122   f   2  at the head end. In this embodiment the handle body  122   f , again made of plastic, nestles in a space-saving manner against a front plate  2  located behind it. In the example represented in  FIG. 8 , a locking element  122   f   3  is integrated the handle element  122   f , by means of which the operating lever  12   f  can be locked in the position represented. The handle element  122   f  is connected with an element for levering in and/or levering-out  121   f , and this connection is again advantageously made by a rotary shaft  13 , which is inserted through a bore  121   f   3  into the handle element  122   f , the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   f  and the end piece  11 . The element for levering in and/or levering out  121   f  has at least one engagement element  121   f   1 , which has a group  121   f   2  of levering-in and levering-out protrusions. At least these elements of the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   f  are made of a wear-resistant material. 
     FIG. 9  represents a perspective exploded lateral view of the main elements of an operating lever  12   g  for an operating element in accordance with this invention, in a further embodiment. In this case the element for levering in and/or levering out  121   g  has a centrally arranged engagement element  121   g   1  with a group  121   g   3  of levering-in and levering-out protrusions and a support plate  121   g   5 , placed on it in a T-shape. The element for levering in and/or levering out  121   g  is embodied as a die-cast element made of zinc or aluminum, for example. A rotary shaft can again be inserted through a bore  121   a   2 . The associated handle element  122   g  is made of plastic, for example, and has a protruding handle head  122   g   3  with flanks  122   g   1 ,  122   g   2  extending laterally downward. Receiver faces  122   g   1 ,  122   g   2  for the support plate  121   g   5  result underneath the handle head  122   g   3 . The flanks  122   g   1 ,  122   g   2  have bores  122   g   7 ,  122   g   8 , into which a rotary shaft can be inserted which, in the assembled state, also penetrates through the bore  121   g   2  in the engagement element  121   g   1  located inbetween.