Patent Publication Number: US-2012025935-A1

Title: Magnetic switch apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to switch apparatuses and, particularly, to a magnetic switch apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventionally, a push switch includes a coil spring to urge a button to a normal position. After repeated use, the elasticity of the spring may decrease or the spring may break, which may result in switch failure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of a switch apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a switch apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the switch apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded, perspective view of the switch apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the switch apparatus in an electrically open state. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the switch apparatus in an electrically closed state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a switch apparatus  100  includes a main body  10  and a base  20  secured to the main body  10 . The main body  10  and the base  20  cooperatively form a receiving space  30 . The switch apparatus  100  further includes a magnetic mechanism  40  and a button  50  received in the receiving space  30 . The button  50  can be driven to move in the receiving space  30  between a first position and a second position. The button  50  can be driven to move from the first position to the second position by an external force, and can be driven to move from the second position to the first position by the magnetic force of the magnetic mechanism  40 . The button  50  can be further driven to keep in the first position by the magnetic force of the magnetic mechanism  40 . In this embodiment, when the button  50  is in the first position, the switch apparatus  100  is in an electrically open state, and when the button  50  is in the second position, the switch apparatus  100  is in an electrically closed state. 
     In this embodiment, the main body  10  is substantially a hollow cylinder. The shape of the main body  10  can vary according to need. An end of the main body  10  opposite to the base  20  defines a through hole  12 . 
     In this embodiment, the base  20  is substantially disc-shaped. The diameter of the base  20  is substantially equal to that of the main body  10 . The shape of the base  20  can vary according to need. The base  20  includes two conductive terminals  21  external to the receiving space  30  and spaced apart from each other. Two projections  22  protrude from a surface of the base  20  and are received in the receiving space  30 . A pair of first conductive elements  23  respectively protrudes perpendicularly from the projections  22  towards each other. Each first conductive element  23  connects to one conductive terminal  21 . In this embodiment, each first conductive element  23  includes two spaced vertically-aligned sub-conductive elements  230 . Each sub-conductive element  230  includes two conductive sheets (not labeled) spaced from each other. Two supports  24  further protrude from the base  20  and are received in the receiving space  30 . The projections  22  are arranged between the supports  24 . 
     In this embodiment, the magnetic mechanism  40  includes a magnet member  42  and an iron block  44 . The magnet member  42  is secured to the sidewall of the receiving space  30 , and the iron block  44  is secured to a distal end of the button  50 . The arrangement of the magnet member  42  and the iron block  44  may vary according to need. For example, the magnet member  42  may be secured to the distal end of the button  50 , and the iron block  44  may be secured to the sidewall of the receiving space  30 . In an alternative embodiment, two magnet members may be employed, one is secured to the sidewall of the receiving space  30 , and the other one is secured to the distal end of the button  50 . In this embodiment, the magnet member  42  includes two magnets  422  and  424 . The magnets  422  and  424  are substantially semi-annular. The magnet member  42  may vary according to need. For example, the magnet member  42  may be an annular magnet. The magnets  422  and  424  are secured to the sidewall of the receiving space  30  and spaced from each other due to two insulated positioning blocks  60  and the supports  24 . The magnets  422  and  424  can be secured to the sidewall of the receiving space  30  through other ways. For example, the sidewall of the receiving space  30  may define recessed portions to secure the magnets  422  and  424 . The south pole of the magnet  422  is aligned across the space with the north pole of the magnet  424 . In order to prolong the lifetime of the switch apparatus  100 , it is better to use permanent magnets. 
     The iron block  44  defines a through hole  442  along an axis of the iron block  44 . In this embodiment, the through hole  442  is substantially rectangular. The width of the through hole  442  is substantially equal to the distance between the projections  22 . The surface of the through hole  442  may be coated for insulation. 
     The button  50  includes a pressing member  52 , a fixing member  54 , and a connecting member  56 . The diameter of the pressing member  52  is substantially equal to that of the through hole  12 , so the pressing member  52  can extend through the through hole  12  and slide along an axis of the main body  10  when pressure is applied. The pressing member  52  may be made of insulated material. The shape of the connecting member  56  is the same as the through hole  442 , and the height of the connecting member  56  is greater than the depth of the through hole  442 , so the connecting member  56  can extend through and be exposed to the through hole  442 . After the connecting member  56  extends through the through hole  442 , the iron block  44  is secured to the fixing member  54 . The connecting member  56  includes a trigger portion  562  corresponding to the first conductive elements  23 . In this embodiment, the trigger portion  562  includes two second conductive elements  5622  spaced apart from and connected to each other, and each conductive element  5622  is a bar-shaped conductive sheet. 
     In this embodiment, normally, the button  50  is kept in the first position due to the magnetic force of the magnetic mechanism  40 . When in the first position, the connecting member  56  does not insert into the sub-conductive elements  230 , the second conductive elements  5622  do not contact the sub-conductive elements  230 , and the conductive terminals  21  are in a disconnected state, thus the switch apparatus  100  is in the open state. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , if the pressing member  52  is depressed, the button  50  is driven to move toward the base  20  along the axis of the main body  10  until the connecting member  56  inserts into the sub-conductive elements  230 . When the connecting member  56  inserts into the sub-conductive elements  230 , the second conductive elements  5622  contact the sub-conductive elements  230 , thus the conductive terminals  21  are electrically connected, and the switch apparatus  100  is in the closed state. When the pressing member  52  is released, the button  50  is driven to move along an opposite direction to the base  20  by the magnetic force of the magnetic mechanism  40  until the button  50  returns to the first position. 
     With such configuration, as the magnetism of the magnetic mechanism  40  is not easily weakened, the lifetime of the switch apparatus  100  may be prolonged. 
     Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.