Patent Description:
A conventional switch device is applied to an electrical, an electronic or an automatic control system for an operator to operate the machine to work or make the circuit situated in a normally open (NO) or a normally closed (NC) state.

Such switch device also can serve as an emergency switch. In the case that an operator improperly operates the machine or the equipment fails or the like, the operator can emergently open the circuit to power off the system so as to avoid serious damage or loss.

The conventional emergency switch device generally includes an operation button equipped with a pushbutton and/or rotary switch and a case body for receiving the operation button and the spring. A connection seat (or base seat) and an electrical connection module with a contact arm are assembled in the case body. When an operator presses the operation button to drive and press down the connection seat, the case body relatively forces the connection seat to compress the spring. The spring pushes out the connection seat to locate the same, whereby the connection seat can push and press the electrical connection module to open the circuit.

In practice, the operator can rotate or forcedly pull up the operation button and the connection seat to make the connection seat restore to its home assembled position or the close-circuit state of the electrical connection module. Conventional switch devices disclose an embodiment, in which a coiled spring is disposed between the switch case body and the slide body in cooperation with a first leaf spring and a second leaf spring of the electrical connection module. When an operator pulls up or presses the operation button, the first and second leaf springs elastically contact the fixed contact to close the circuit or separate from the fixed contact to open the circuit.

With respect to the structure, practical operation and application of the conventional switch device, some shortcomings exist in the conventional switch device as follows:.

It should be noted that in the conventional switch device, the elasticity of the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring is used in cooperation with the rigid structure of the push member to achieve the NO or NC mode. In the case of long-term (or highly frequent) use or due to human factors, the material fatigue of the first and second leaf springs is apt to take place or the lifetimes of the first and second leaf springs are often shortened. This is not what we expect.

Document <CIT> discloses a switch device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

To speak representatively, the conventional switch devices reveal some shortcomings of the operation body, the electrical connection module and the relevant connection components of the conventional switch device in use and structural design. In the case that the assembling structures and the application of the switch device, the electrical connection module and the relevant components are redesigned to be different from the conventional switch device, the use form of the switch device can be changed to enhance the application effect thereof. For example, in the condition that the structure is simplified and the operation is facilitated, the redesign should include the following issues:.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide, according to claim <NUM>, a switch device structure includes an assembly of a main body and an operation body. An electrical connection module and an elastic unit are mounted on the main body. The (movable) contact arm of the electrical connection module has a first member and/or a second member with variable arrangement position. The elastic unit is disposed on the operation body. The elastic unit includes a fixed section, a free section and a bent section connected between the fixed section and the free section, which together define a geometrical configuration. (The bent section at least includes a bent section and a subsidiary bent section). According to (or in response to) the position or motion of the operation body, the elastic unit provides an elastic force to push the contact arm of the electrical connection module into a contacting circuit closed state or make the elastic unit separate from the contact arm to form a circuit open state. The arrangement form of the first member and/or the second member of the contact arm of the electrical connection module is variable in accordance with the specification of the switch to achieve NO mode and NC mode.

In the above switch device structure, the contact arms of the electrical connection module are classified into a fixed contact arm and a movable contact arm. The first member of the movable contact arm is formed with a connection section. The second member of the movable contact arm includes a base section and a subsidiary connection section directed to outer side. The subsidiary connection section is assembled with the connection section of the first member. Alternatively, after the second member (and/or the elastic unit) is <NUM>-degree turned, the subsidiary connection section is assembled with the connection section of the first member. Accordingly, the arrangement form of the movable contact arm is variable to achieve NO mode and NC mode.

In the above switch device structure, the fixed section of the elastic unit is fixed on the operation body, whereby the elastic unit moves in response to the motion of the operation body. The elastic unit includes a base section windingly extending from the fixed section, a bent section connected with the base section and a (concaved) bow section connected with the bent section. In addition, a tail end of the bow section is formed with a subsidiary bent section and a free section connected with the subsidiary bent section. The free section extends in a direction to the fixed section to together define a geometrical configuration. When the elastic unit moves according to (or in response to) the position or motion of the operation body, the elastic unit provides a displacement (motional) distance and elastic force.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Please refer to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The switch device structure of the present invention includes an assembly of a main body <NUM> and an operation body <NUM> of the switch device. An operation button <NUM> is pivotally disposed on the main body <NUM> and/or the operation body <NUM>. The operation button <NUM> is permitted to rotate and/or reciprocally move in an axial direction of the switch to drive the operation body <NUM> to move.

It should be noted that the switch device has such a specification and arrangement that the switch device is situated in an NO and/or NC mode. The relevant cooperative structures for the operation button <NUM> to drive the operation body <NUM> to move pertain to prior art and thus will not be specifically described hereinafter.

The upper section, lower section, outer section, inner section, front end, rear end, etc. mentioned hereinafter are recited with the direction of the drawings as the reference direction.

As shown in the drawings, the main body <NUM> has a protruding base body <NUM> and multiple stands <NUM> positioned around the base body <NUM>. The base body <NUM> is assembled with the operation body <NUM>, whereby the operation body <NUM> is permitted to reciprocally move on the base body <NUM> in response to the rotation and/or pressing of the operation button <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the operation body <NUM> has the form of a shaft-shaped body structure and is fitted on the base body <NUM>. (At least one or multiple) upper protrusion sections <NUM> and lower protrusion sections <NUM> are disposed on the operation body <NUM>. The upper protrusion sections <NUM> and the lower protrusion sections <NUM> (perpendicularly) protrude from the shaft-shaped body structure of the operation body <NUM>. The upper protrusion sections <NUM> and/or the lower protrusion sections <NUM> are formed with retaining sections <NUM> in the form of a recessed structure.

<FIG> and <FIG> also show that the stands <NUM> of the main body <NUM> define therebetween a space <NUM>. Locating sections <NUM> are disposed on the stands <NUM> in the form of raised/recessed structures for mounting a rest section <NUM> and an electrical connection module <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the main body <NUM> has four stands <NUM> and four spaces <NUM> in adaptation to the rest sections <NUM>. Accordingly, the switch device can achieve an NO mode and an NC mode or two NO modes and two NC modes.

As shown in the drawings, the rest section <NUM> is in the form of a U-shaped structure having a first section <NUM>, a second section <NUM> and a base section <NUM> connected between the first and second sections <NUM>, <NUM>. The first and second sections <NUM>, <NUM> are respectively formed with subsidiary locating sections <NUM> in the form of raised/recessed structures and notches <NUM> positioned at a head end of the first section <NUM> and a head end of the second section <NUM>. The subsidiary locating sections <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> are assembled with the locating sections <NUM> of the stands <NUM> to help in securely mounting the electrical connection module <NUM> on the rest section <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. The electrical connection module <NUM> includes multiple contact arms. The arrangement position of at least one of the contact arms of the electrical connection module <NUM> is variable. The contact arms are classified into a fixed contact arm <NUM> assembled with the first section <NUM> and a movable contact arm <NUM> assembled with the second section <NUM>. Alternatively, the fixed contact arm <NUM> is mounted in a position between the stand <NUM> and the first section <NUM>, while the movable contact arm <NUM> is mounted in a position between the stand <NUM> and the second section <NUM>. The fixed contact arm <NUM> has a fixed contact 51a. The fixed contact 51a extends through the notch <NUM> of the first section <NUM> into the space <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> or the stand <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the movable contact arm <NUM> is a two-piece structure including a first member <NUM> and a second member <NUM>. The first member <NUM> has a head section formed with a connection section <NUM>. The second member <NUM> has a free section <NUM> and a movable contact 52a disposed on the free section <NUM>. The free section <NUM> and the movable contact 52a pass over the notch <NUM> of the second section <NUM> into the space <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> or the stand <NUM>. The movable contact 52a extends to the position of the fixed contact 51a, whereby the fixed contact 51a and the movable contact 52a are positioned in an upper position and a lower position as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in the drawings, the second member <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM> is formed with a bent section <NUM> connected with the free section <NUM>. The bent section <NUM> serves to enhance the elasticity and/or motional range of the free section <NUM>. In addition, the second member <NUM> has a base section <NUM> connected with the bent section <NUM>. The base section <NUM> is formed with a subsidiary connection section <NUM> directed to outer side of the stand <NUM> (or <FIG>). The subsidiary connection section <NUM> holds and is assembled with the connection section <NUM> of the first member <NUM> and/or the second member <NUM> is <NUM>-degree turned to assemble the subsidiary connection section <NUM> with the connection section <NUM> of the first member <NUM>. Accordingly, the arrangement form of the second member <NUM> is variable to achieve NO and NC modes. (This will be further described hereinafter).

The operation body <NUM> is equipped with an elastic unit <NUM>, which moves in response to the position or motion of the operation body <NUM>. The elastic unit <NUM> includes a fixed section <NUM>, a free section <NUM> and a bent section connected between the fixed section <NUM> and the free section <NUM>, which together define a geometrical configuration.

To speak more specifically, the elastic unit <NUM> includes a fixed section <NUM>, a base section <NUM> windingly extending from the fixed section <NUM>, a bent section <NUM> connected with the base section <NUM> and a bow section <NUM> connected with the bent section <NUM>. In addition, a tail end of the bow section <NUM> is formed with a subsidiary bent section <NUM> and a free section <NUM> connected with the subsidiary bent section <NUM>. The free section <NUM> extends in a direction to the fixed section <NUM> to together define a geometrical configuration. When the elastic unit <NUM> moves in response to the operation body <NUM>, the elastic unit <NUM> provides a displacement (motional) distance and elastic force.

The aforesaid elastic unit includes the bent section <NUM>, the subsidiary bent section <NUM> and/or the bow section <NUM>. The fixed section <NUM> of the elastic unit <NUM> is fixed on the operation body <NUM>. The fixed section <NUM> is bent upward (to the upper side of the drawing) and transversely extends to form the base section <NUM>, whereby an indentation <NUM> is defined between the fixed section <NUM> and the base section <NUM>. The base section <NUM> is upward bent (to the upper side of the drawing) to form the bent section <NUM>. The bent section <NUM> transversely extends to form the (concaved) bow section <NUM>, (that is, the bow section <NUM> has the form of a concaved bow structure). The tail end of the bow section <NUM> is bent to form the (convex) subsidiary bent section <NUM>. The subsidiary bent section <NUM> extends in a direction to the fixed section <NUM> (or to the lower side of the drawing) to form the free section <NUM>. The length of the free section <NUM> passes through the horizontal position of the base section <NUM> to together define a geometrical configuration with a confined space <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the structures of the main body <NUM>, the operation body <NUM>, the electrical connection module <NUM> and the elastic unit <NUM>, which cooperate with each other to achieve the NC mode. The bent section <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM> is upward convex (in a direction to the upper side of the drawing). The fixed section <NUM> (and/or the indentation <NUM>) of the elastic unit <NUM> is securely assembled on the lower protrusion section <NUM> (and/or the retaining section <NUM>) of the operation body <NUM>, whereby the subsidiary bent section <NUM> (or the bow section <NUM>) of the elastic unit <NUM> is directed to the free section <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM>.

When the operation body <NUM> is positioned in an initial position (or defined as a first position), the lower protrusion section <NUM> serves as a support point for the elastic unit <NUM> (or the fixed section <NUM> or the base section <NUM>) and the subsidiary bent section <NUM> pushes and presses the movable contact 52a into contact with the fixed contact 51a, whereby the switch device is situated in an NC mode. Also, the elastic unit <NUM> (and/or the free section <NUM>) is displaced in a direction to the lower side of the drawing, whereby the elastic unit <NUM> is situated in an energy storage state.

Please refer to <FIG>. When an operator presses down the operation button <NUM> due to emergency condition, the operation body <NUM> (and/or the lower protrusion section <NUM>) is driven to drive the elastic unit <NUM> to move from the first position to the lower side of the drawing (or defined as a second position). Under such circumstance, the movable contact 52a is released from the push force of the subsidiary bent section <NUM> and the elastic unit <NUM> releases the stored energy so that the movable contact 52a separates from the fixed contact 51a of the fixed contact arm <NUM> to achieve an open circuit state.

As shown in the drawings, the upper protrusion section <NUM> of the operation body <NUM> pushes and presses the free section <NUM> of the movable contact arm to ensure that the movable contact 52a of the free section <NUM> separates from the fixed contact 51a.

Please now refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> show the structures of the main body <NUM>, the operation body <NUM>, the electrical connection module <NUM> and the elastic unit <NUM>, which cooperate with each other to achieve an NO mode of the switch device. In the drawings, the second member <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM> (and/or the elastic unit <NUM>) is <NUM>-degree turned.

In this embodiment, the first section <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> is formed with a first mouth section <NUM> (in a position near the base section <NUM>). The fixed contact 51a of the fixed contact arm <NUM> can extend through the first mouth section <NUM> into the space <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> or the stand <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixed contact arm <NUM> is formed with a bent finger section 51b, which is inserted in an insertion hole <NUM> of the base section <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> to help in assembling the fixed contact arm <NUM> with the rest section <NUM> or securing the fixed contact arm <NUM> to the rest section <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show that the second section <NUM> is formed with a second mouth section <NUM> (in a position near the base section <NUM>). After the second member <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM> is <NUM>-degree turned, the free section <NUM> (and/or at least a part of the bent section <NUM>) and the movable contact 52a can extend through the second mouth section <NUM> into the space <NUM> of the rest section <NUM> or the stand <NUM>. The movable contact 52a extends to a position of the fixed contact 51a, whereby the fixed contact 51a and the movable contact 52a are positioned in an upper position and a lower position as shown in <FIG> without contacting each other (or so-called NO mode).

As shown in the drawings, after the second member <NUM> is <NUM>-degree turned, the subsidiary connection section <NUM> of the second member <NUM> is directed to the outer side of the stand <NUM> (or <FIG>) can hold and assemble with the connection section <NUM> of the first member <NUM>. Accordingly, the arrangement form of the second member <NUM> is variable to achieve the aforesaid NO mode of the switch device.

<FIG> shows that the bent section <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM> is downward convex (in a direction to the lower side of the drawing). Also, the elastic unit <NUM> is <NUM>-degree turned, whereby the fixed section <NUM> (and/or the indentation <NUM>) is securely assembled on the upper protrusion section <NUM> (and/or the retaining section <NUM>) of the operation body <NUM>. In this case, the subsidiary bent section <NUM> (or the bow section <NUM>) of the elastic unit <NUM> is directed to the free section <NUM> of the movable contact arm <NUM>.

As shown in the drawings, the lower protrusion section <NUM> of the operation body <NUM> pushes and presses the free section <NUM> of the movable contact arm to ensure that the movable contact 52a of the free section <NUM> separates from the fixed contact 51a (without contacting the fixed contact 51a).

Please refer to <FIG>. When an operator presses down the operation button <NUM>, the operation body <NUM> (and/or the upper protrusion section <NUM>) is driven to drive the elastic unit <NUM> to move toward the lower side of the drawing. The upper protrusion section <NUM> serves as a support point for the elastic unit <NUM> (or the fixed section <NUM> or the base section <NUM>) and the subsidiary bent section <NUM> pushes and presses the movable contact 52a into contact with the fixed contact 51a, whereby the switch device is situated in an NC mode. Also, the elastic unit <NUM> (and/or the free section <NUM>) is displaced in a direction to the upper side of the drawing, whereby the elastic unit <NUM> is situated in an energy storage state.

To speak representatively, in the condition that the structure is simplified and the operation is facilitated, in comparison with the conventional switch device, the switch device structure of the present invention has the following advantages:.

Claim 1:
A switch device structure comprising an assembly of a main body (<NUM>) and an operation body (<NUM>), wherein an electrical connection module (<NUM>) and an elastic unit (<NUM>) being mounted on the main body (<NUM>), the electrical connection module (<NUM>) having a contact arm with variable mounting position, the contact arm including a fixed contact arm (<NUM>) with a fixed contact (51a) and a movable contact arm (<NUM>) with a movable contact (52a), the elastic unit (<NUM>) including a fixed section (<NUM>), a free section (<NUM>) and a bent section connected between the fixed section (<NUM>) and the free section (<NUM>), which together define a geometrical configuration, in accordance with the position of the operation body (<NUM>), the elastic unit (<NUM>) being able to provide an elastic push force to push the movable contact (52a) of the movable contact arm (<NUM>) of the electrical connection module (<NUM>) into contact with the fixed contact (51a) of the fixed contact arm (<NUM>) to form a circuit closed state or make the elastic unit (<NUM>) separate from the movable contact arm (<NUM>) to form a circuit open state, the fixed section (<NUM>) of the elastic unit (<NUM>) is fixed on the operation body (<NUM>), characterized by the elastic unit (<NUM>) including a base section (<NUM>) windingly extending from the fixed section (<NUM>), a bent section (<NUM>) connected with the base section (<NUM>) and a bow section (<NUM>) connected with the bent section (<NUM>), a tail end of the bow section (<NUM>) being formed with a subsidiary bent section (<NUM>) and a free section (<NUM>) connected with the subsidiary bent section (<NUM>), the free section (<NUM>) extending in a direction to the fixed section (<NUM>) to together define a geometrical configuration, whereby when the elastic unit (<NUM>) moves in response to the operation body (<NUM>), the elastic unit (<NUM>) is displaced and moved.