US3706866A

US3706866A - Rocker switch interlock with spring latch member

Info

Publication number: US3706866A
Application number: US117980A
Authority: US
Inventors: David Foley
Original assignee: Lucas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1970-02-28
Filing date: 1971-02-23
Publication date: 1972-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-12-19
Also published as: JPS5138433B1; ES166670Y; FR2079118A5; JPS461976A; GB1326591A; ES166670U; DE2109505A1; DE2109505B2

Abstract

A rocker switch assembly includes first and second rocker switches positioned side-by-side, with the pivot axis of the operating member of the first switch aligned with the pivot axis of the operating member of the second switch. A U-shaped resilient member is carried by the switches with the parallel limbs of the U-shaped member extending parallel to and on opposite sides respectively of the pivot axis of the operating members of the switches. The limbs of the resilient member constitute first and second latch pieces, the first latch piece co-operating with the operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the second switch from an off position to an on position until the first switch has been moved to an on position, and the second latch piece co-operating with the operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the first switch from an on position to an off position until the second switch has been moved to an off position.

Description

United States Patent 1 Foley I 5] 4 Dec. 19, 1972 R CKER SWITCH INTERLOCK W TH Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer SPRING LATCH MEMBER Assistant Examiner-M. Ginsburg [721 inventor: David Foley, Burnley, England Atmmey l i?]man Stem [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited, [57] ABSTRACT B h ,-E 1 d mmng am an A rocker switch assembly includes first and second Filed; 23, 1971 rocker switches positioned side-by-side, with vthe pivot [21] APP'LNO: 117,980 axis of the operating member of the first switch 4 7 aligned with the pivot axis of the operating member of the second switch. A U-shaped resilient member is [30] P Apphcauon Pnomy Data carried by the switches with the parallel limbs of the Feb. 28, 1970 Great Britain .9796 p member extending Parallel to and On P- posite sides respectively of the pivot axis of the [52] U.S. Cl. ..200/50 C operating members of the switches. The limbs of the [51] In t.Cl. ..l-l0lh 9/26 resilient member constitute first and second latch [58] Field of Search ..200/6 R, 5 E, 50 C, DIG. 6, pieces, the first latch piece co-operating with the 200/172 A operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the second switch from an off [56] References Cited position to an on position until the first switch has beenwmoved to an on position, and the second latch UNITED STATES PATENTS piece co-operating with the operating members of the 3,504,372 3/1970 Sharples .;.200/50 C first and second switches to prevent movement of the 3,213,326 10/1965 Gryctko .;200/5Q C X first switch from an on position to an off position until the second switch has been moved to an off position..

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ROCKER SWITCH INTERLOCK WITH SPRING LATCH MEMBER 1 This invention relates to rocker switch assemblies.

An assembly according to the invention includes first and second rocker switches positioned side by side, with the pivot axis of the operating member of the first switch aligned with the pivot axis of the operating member of the second, switch, and a U-shaped resilient member carried by the switches with the parallel limbs of the U-shaped member extending parallel to and on opposite sides respectively of the pivot axis of the operating members of the switches, the limbs of said resilient member constituting first and second latch pieces, the first latch piece co-operating with the operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the second switch from an off position to an on-position until the first switch has been moved to an on position, and the second latch piece cooperating with the operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the first switch from an on position to an off position until the second switch has been moved to an off position.

Preferably, the operating members of the first and second switches include respective catches which are engageable by the first and second latch pieces respectively to prevent movement of the respective operating members relative to the body, and further include respective cam members operable to disengage said first and second latch pieces from their respective catches, movement of the operating member of the first switch to its on position causing its respective cam member to free the second switch for movement to its on position and movement of the operating member of the second switch to its off position causing its respective cam member to free the first switch for movement to its off position.

One example, of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rocker switch assembly with the operating members of the switches omitted or clarity,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views on the lines 2--2 and 3--3 respectively in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of one of the spring retaining members shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the rocker switch assembly includes first and second rocker switches 11, 12 which are positioned side by side with the axis of movement of. the operating member 13 of the switch 11 aligned with the pivotal axis of the operating member 14 of the switch 12. The switches 11, 12 are held in position relative to one another by a moulded nacelle 15 in which the switches 11, 12 are received as a snap it. Secured to the bodies of the switches l1, 12 between the bodies of the switches and the operating members of the switches is a U-shaped wire spring 16, the .pair of

parallel limbs

17, 18 of which extend parallel to and on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the

operating members

13, 14. The base of the spring 16 which interconnects the

limbs

17, 18 abuts against the inner surface of a wall 19 on the body of the switch 11, and the spring is trapped in position relative to the switch 11 and the switch 12 by a pair of restraining

members

21, 22 engaged with the bodies of the switches 11, 12 respectively.

The

restraining members

21, 22 are substantially identical, and each includes a post (indicated by the suffix a in the drawings) which is engaged as an interference fit in a corresponding bore in the body of the respective switch. Integral with the posts 21a, 22a are fingers 21b, 22b respectively, the fingers 21b overlying the limb 17 of the spring 16 and the finger 22b overlying the limb 18 of the spring 16. The member 21 engages the base of the spring 16 and the limb 17, and so traps the base of the spring against the wall 19. The fin gers 21b, 22b which overlie the

limbs

17, 18 respectively do not prevent flexure of the

limbs

17, 18 in the plane of the spring 16, but prevent flexure of the

limbs

17, 18 in a plane at right angles to the plane of the spring 16.

The face of the operating member 13 of the switch 11 which is presented towards the operating member 14 of the switch 12 is formed with a pair of extensions 23, 24 respectively, which extend between the bodies of the switches 11, 12. The extension 23 constitutes a catch, and the extension 24 is provided with an inclined surface 25, and constitutes a cam member engaging the limb 18 of the spring 16. Similarly the face of the operating member 14 presented towards the operating member 13 includes a pair of

extensions

26, 27 which extend parallel with the extensions 23, 24, between the bodies of the switches 11, 12. The extension 26 includes a surface 28, and constitutes a cam member engaging the limb 17 of the spring 16, the extension 27 constituting a catch.

With the

operating members

13, 14 in the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 both switches are in their off positions. The limb 17 of the spring 16 is stressed outwardly in a direction away from the limb 18 by the cam member 28, while the limb 18 of the spring 16 is in its rest position. When the limb 18 is in its rest position the limb 18 engages the catch 27 of the operating member 14, so that the operating member 14 cannot be moved from its off position. However, the cam member 24 of the operating member 13 is also engaged with the limb 18, and movement of the operating member 13 is not prevented by the limb 18. Thus upon movement of the operating member 13 from its off position to its on position the limb 18 is flexed outwardly in a direction away from the limb 17 by the cam member 24 of the operating member 13, the limb 18 thereby being moved out of engagement with the catch 27 of the operating member 14, and releasing the operating member 14 for movement from its off position to its on position.

Upon movement of the operating member 14 to its on position the cam member 26 is moved relative to the limb 17 of the spring 16, thereby permitting the limb 17 to return to its rest position. When the limb 17 is in its rest position, with the operating member 13 in its on position then the limb 17 engages the catch 23 of the operating members 13 in a manner to prevent movement of the operating member 13 from its on position to its off position. Thus before the operating member 13 can be returned to its off position the operating member 4 must be moved to its off position so that the limb 17 is once again flexed out of engagement with the catch 23 by the cam member 26 of the operating member 14.

In one practicalembodiment the switch 11 controls the side lights of a road vehicle while the switch 12 controls the head lights of the road vehicle. By virtue of the arrangement, the headlamps of the vehicle cannot be switched on until the side lamps have been switched on, and the sidelamps cannot be switched off until the headlamps have been switched off.

It will be appreciated, that although FlGS. 2 and 3 show the operating members l3, 14 in their off positions F IG, 1 does not show the limb 17 of the spring 16 in a position corresponding to the off position of the operating member 14. FIG. 1 shows the

limbs

17, 18 of the spring 16 both in their rest positions for convenience.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

,pieces and the operating members of the first and second switches including respective catches which are engageable by the first and second latch pieces respectively to prevent movement of'the respective operating members relative to the body in one direction, and the operatingv members of the first and second switches further including respective cam r'nembers'operable to disengage said first and second latch pieces from their respective catches, movement of the operating member of the first switch to its on position causing the cam member of the first switch to move the first latch piece out of engagement with the catch .of the operating member of the second switch so as to free the operating member of the second switch for movement to its on position, and movement of the operating member of the second switch to its off position causing the cam member of the operating member of the second switch to move the second latch piece out of engagement with the catch of the operating member of the first switch so as to free the operating member of the first switch for movement to its off position.

2. A' switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient member is engaged by a pair of restraining members carried by the first and second switches respectively, means whereby said restraining members allow flexure of the limbs of said resilient member in the plane of the resilient member whereby said first and second latch pieces can be engaged with and disengaged from their respective catches, and further prevent flexure of said limbs at right angles to the plane of the resilient member.

i t I I

Claims

1. A rocker switch assembly including first and second rocker switches positioned side by side on a body, with the pivot axis of the operating member of the first switch aligned with the pivot axis of the operating member of the second switch, and a Ushaped resilient member carried by the switches with the parallel limbs of the U-shaped member extending parallel to and on opposite sides respectively of the pivot axes of the operating members of the switches, the limbs of the resilient member constituting first and second latch pieces and the operating members of the first and second switches including respective catches which are engageable by the first and second latch pieces respectively to prevent movement of the respective operating members relative to the body in one direction, and the operating members of the first and second switches further including respective cam members operable to disengage said first and second latch pieces from their respective catches, movement of the operating member of the first switch to its on position causing the cam member of the first switch to move the first latch piece out of engagement with the catch of the operating member of the second switch so as to free the operating member of the second switch for movement to its on position, and movement of the operating member of the second switch to its off position causing the cam member of the operating member of the second switch to move the second latch piece out of engagement with the catch of the operating member of the first switch so as to free the operating member of the first switch for movement to its off position.

2. A switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient member is engaged by a pair of restraining members carried by the first and second switches respectively, means whereby said restraining members allow flexure of the limbs of said resilient member in the plane of the resilient member whereby said first and second latch pieces can be engaged with and disengaged from their respective catches, and further prevent flexure of said limbs at right angles to the plane of the resilient member.