The present disclosure relates to switch assemblies and more particularly relates to a push-return mechanism for a switch. Furthermore, the push-return mechanism includes fluid flow paths and drain slot to discharge the fluids ingress therein, while restricting intrusion of external agents inside the push-return mechanism.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, circuits were designed to accomplish power transmission from one device to the other. Switches were introduced in the circuit to operate between an OFF and an ON state of the power transmission. Conventionally, switch assemblies have been designed in varieties of fashion to ascertain requirement of the circuits, devices and appliances. Such conventional switch assemblies include toggling buttons, lever switches, push buttons, and the like.

Particularly, in push buttons, circuits have been designed to operate in a fashion to actuate a circuit or a printed circuit board to switch between an OFF and an ON state. However, the conventional push buttons had problems with sockets and/or configuration of the arrangement of the push buttons in the sockets due to inefficient designs that resulted in failure of push buttons due to breakage. The sockets were designed by placing the push buttons on a receptable attached to a board and actuated thereof. In such sockets, breakage problems used to be there because of the dependency of the push buttons on the receptables and failure of receptables leads to failure of the entire socket.

In recent past years, developments were made to overcome the problems related to the conventional sockets. Push and return mechanisms have been developed to reduce the breakage and increase life span of the switches. Conventional push and return mechanisms include a switch knob coupled to a knob holder arranged in a body. However, there are problems with the conventional push and return mechanisms as they are susceptible to accumulate moisture, dirt and other external influences such as insects inside a base of the push and return mechanisms and clog therein. The clogging of dirt, insect and moisture results in damage of the conventional push and return mechanisms and arises replacement that involves increase in input cost.

Therefore, in light of foregoing discussions, there is a need to overcome the limitations/drawbacks of the conventional switch assemblies.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to a push-return mechanism for a switch to operate the switch between an OFF state and an ON state. In an embodiment, the push-return mechanism may be connected to a statuary device, electronic gadgets, light assemblies in rooms, automobiles, and the like.

In an aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a push-return mechanism for a switch to operate between an OFF state and an ON state. The push-return mechanism includes a body having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of holders concentrically disposed in the body at the first end and adapted to oscillate with respect to the body to operate the switch. The plurality of holders and the body form a first fluid flow path there between for fluids to flow therein. The push-return mechanism includes a base cover concentrically disposed in the body and proximate to the second end of the body. The base cover includes a second fluid flow path formed along a top surface of the body such that the second fluid flow path is orthogonal to the first fluid flow path and at least one drain slot downstream to the second fluid flow path and adapted to discharge the fluid from the body. The at least one drain slot is provided at side walls of the base cover and enclosed within the body.

Embodiments of the present disclosure enables to efficiently drain out the moisture and dirt from the base cover, and also restricting an entrance of insects such as ants inside the body.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1A illustrates an exploded view of a push-return mechanism for a switch to operate between an OFF state and an ON state, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 1B illustrates a sectional view of a push-return mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2A illustrates a side sectional view of the push-return mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 2B illustrates an open perspective view of the base cover, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which invention belongs. The system and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more elements is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a push-return mechanism is disclosed. The push-return mechanism is adapted for a switch to operate the switch between an OFF state and an ON state. Furthermore, the push-return mechanism includes fluid flow paths to drain out the moisture content inside a base cover and also restricts an entrance of insects such as ants inside the body.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit “2” are shown at least in Figure 2.

Figure 1A illustrates an exploded view of a push-return mechanism 100 for a switch 102 to operate between an OFF state and an ON state, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1B illustrates a sectional view of the push-return mechanism 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The push-return mechanism 100 includes a body 104 having a first end 106 and a second end 108, a plurality of holders 110, a first fluid flow path 112, a base cover 114 including a second fluid flow path 116 and at least one drain slot 118 provided at side walls 120 of the base cover 114. The push-return mechanism 100 also includes a plurality of switch knobs 122 mounted on the plurality of holders 110. The push-return mechanism 100 also includes a printed circuit board 124 and a rubber pad 126 to receive switching inputs from the plurality of switch knobs 122.

Throughout the present disclosure the term “push-return mechanism” refers to push button devices configured to switch a circuitry from an OFF state to an ON state. The push-return mechanism 100 as used herein is provided with the plurality of switch knobs 122 that are configured to provided switching inputs to the printed circuit board 124. The push-return mechanism 100 also includes a first fluid flow path 112, a second fluid flow path 116 and at least one drain slot 118 to discharge the collected fluid at a base cover 114 from the atmosphere.

According to an embodiment, the push-return mechanism 100 includes the body 104 having a first end 106 and a second end 108. The body 104 as used herein refers to a frame adapted to provide support to the switch 102 while operating between an OFF state and an ON state. As shown in the Figure 1A, the body includes four walls with an open top and an open base. The first end 106 is at the top and the second end 108 is at the base of the body 104. In an instance, the body 104 is in a cuboidal shape. However, the body 104 may includes shapes such as cube, cylindrical and the like.

According to one embodiment, the push-return mechanism 100 includes the plurality of holders 110 concentrically disposed in the body 104 at the first end 106 and adapted to oscillate with respect to the body 104 to operate the switch 102. The plurality of holders 110 and the body 104 form a first fluid flow path 112 there between for fluids to flow therein. The plurality of holders 110 as used herein refers to receptables that receives switch and hold therein. The plurality of holders 110 are concentrically inserted inside the hollow volume of the body 104 at the first end 106. In an instance, the plurality of holders 110 may be adhesively coupled to the body 104 to provide rigid support to the switch 102. The first fluid flow path 112 as used herein above refers to a passage created at the first end 106 of the body and plurality of holders 110. The first fluid flow path 112 allows the fluids to pass therethrough to a downstream of the first fluid flow path 112. In an embodiment, the passage of the first fluid flow path 112 includes a width in a range of 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters.

In an embodiment, the push-return mechanism 100 includes a plurality of switch knobs 122 mounted on the plurality of holders 110 adapted to allow oscillation of the plurality of switch knobs 122, when operated. The plurality of switch knobs 122 as used herein refers to push buttons configured to switch between an ON and an OFF state. The plurality of switch knobs 122 are operable to actuate and release within the plurality of holders 110 adapted to allow oscillation of the plurality of switch knobs 122. In an example, the plurality of switch knobs 122 may include, but not limited to, light buttons, display switches, increase and decrease buttons and the like.

In another embodiment, the push-return mechanism 100 includes a printed circuit board 124 to receive switching inputs in response to the oscillation of the plurality of holders 110 and thereby oscillation of the plurality of switch knobs 122. The printed circuit board 124 as used herein refers to electronic circuits that is configured to operate on actuation of the plurality of switch knobs 122 from an ON state to an OFF state. In an instance, the printed circuit board 124 may include operations such as increasing light intensity or decreasing the light intensity, play, pause, restart, and the like. Furthermore, the printed circuit board 124 is a preprogrammed circuit and configured with aforesaid operation before assembling.

In an embodiment, the printed circuit board 124 includes press and release buttons fabricated at an upper surface and configured to switch between the OFF state and the ON state with respect to the plurality of switch knobs 122, when operated. The press and release buttons are circuit buttons that are concentrically arranged with the plurality of switch knobs 122 and connected to a base of the plurality of holders 110. Furthermore, the press and release buttons are fabricated at circuit designing stage to accomplish the preprogrammed circuit and configured with aforesaid operations.

In another embodiment, the push-return mechanism 100 includes a rubber pad 126 disposed between the printed circuit board 124 and the base cover 114. The rubber pad 126 as used herein refers to a flexible support that enable a press and release of the plurality of switch knobs 122. The rubber pad 126 is operable to deform and reshape in accordance with the press and release of the plurality of switch knobs 122. The rubber pad 126 is disposed between the printed circuit board 124 and the base cover 114 to support the actuation of press and release buttons fabricated at an upper surface of the printed circuit board 124, when actuated from the plurality of switch knobs 122. In yet another embodiment, the rubber pad 126 is orthogonally aligned to the press and release buttons and the printed circuit board 124 and adapted to respond press and release of the plurality of switch knobs 122, when operated. In an instance, the push-return mechanism 100 may include a spring type rubber pad coupled to the plurality of holders 110 to provide oscillation to the plurality of switch knobs 122, when operated. The spring type rubber pad may function similar to the rubber pad 126 with an enhanced flexibility and life span.

Figure 2A illustrates a side sectional view of the push-return mechanism 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2B illustrates an open perspective view of the base cover 114, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment, the push-return mechanism 100 includes the base cover 114 concentrically disposed in the body 104 and proximate to the second end 108 of the body 104. The base cover 114 refers to a casing or a covering provided at the bottom of the push-return mechanism 100 to secure the body 104. Furthermore, the base cover 114 is coupled to the body 104 and supports stable reception of the plurality of holders 110, printed circuit board 124 and the rubber pad 126 therein. The base cover 114 dimensionally correlated to a base of the body 104. In an instance, the base cover 114 is hollow cuboid in shape. However, the base cover 114 may include, but not limited to, cube, cylinder and the like.

According to one embodiment, the base cover 114 includes a second fluid flow path 116 formed along a top surface of the body such that the second fluid flow path 116 is orthogonal to the first fluid flow path 112. The second fluid flow path 116 is a similar passage first fluid flow path 112. The second fluid flow path 116 is orthogonally aligned at a downstream of the first fluid flow path 112. The first fluid flow path 112 and the second fluid flow path 116 form a passage for the moisture, fluids, and dirt to discharge outside the body 112.

The base cover 114 also includes at least one drain slot 118 downstream to the second fluid flow path 116 and adapted to discharge the fluid from the body 104. The at least one drain slot 118 is provided at side walls 120 of the base cover 114 and enclosed within the body 104. The at least one drain slot 118 refers to an opening and/or a hole formed at the ide walls 120 of the base cover 114 to connectively drain out the fluid passing through the first fluid flow path 112 and the second fluid flow path 116. In an embodiment, a length of the at least one drain slot 118 is in a range of 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters. The at least one drain slot 118 narrower in width and sufficient to allow passage of fluids. Furthermore, the at least one drain slot 118 is overlapped with inner walls of the body 104 that forms a restrictive for fluid to pass through any block ingress of external agents such as insects therein.

Embodiments discussed herein above provides an efficient and robust push-return mechanism 100 that forms a passage formed by the first fluid flow path 112, the second fluid flow path 116 and the at least one drain slot 118 to discharge the fluid passing therethrough. Beneficially, the at least one drain slot 118 is overlapped with inner walls of the body 104 that forms a restrictive passage for fluid to pass through any block ingress of external agents such as insects therein.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

We Claim:

1. A push-return mechanism (100) for a switch (102) to operate between an OFF state and an ON state, the push-return mechanism (100) comprising:
a body (104) having a first end (106) and a second end (108);
a plurality of holders (110) concentrically disposed in the body (104) at the first end (106) and adapted to oscillate with respect to the body (104) to operate the switch (102), wherein the plurality of holders (110) and the body (104) form a first fluid flow path (112) there between for fluids to flow therein; and
a base cover (114) concentrically disposed in the body (104) and proximate to the second end (108) of the body (104), the base cover (114) comprising:
a second fluid flow path (116) formed along a top surface of the body such that the second fluid flow path (116) is orthogonal to the first fluid flow path (112); and
at least one drain slot (118) downstream to the second fluid flow path (120) and adapted to discharge the fluid from the body (104), wherein the at least one drain slot (118) is provided at side walls (122) of the base cover (114) and enclosed within the body (104).

2. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one drain slot (118) is in a range of 2 millimetres to 4 millimetres.

3. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of switch knobs (124) mounted on the plurality of holders (110) adapted to allow oscillation of the plurality of switch knobs (124), when operated.

4. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 3, comprising a printed circuit board (126) to receive switching inputs in response to the oscillation of the plurality of holders (110) and thereby oscillation of the plurality of switch knobs (124).

5. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the printed circuit board (126) includes press and release buttons fabricated at an upper surface and configured to switch between the OFF state and the ON state with respect to the plurality of switch knobs (124), when operated.

6. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 4, comprising a rubber pad (128) disposed between the printed circuit board (126) and the base cover (114).

7. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rubber pad (128) is orthogonally aligned to the press and release buttons and the printed circuit board (126) and adapted to respond press and release of the plurality of switch knobs (124), when operated.

8. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a spring type rubber pad coupled to the plurality of holders (110) to provide oscillation to the plurality of switch knobs (124), when operated.

9. The push-return mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a passage formed between an outer surface of the sidewalls (122) of the base cover (114) and an inner surface of the body (104), and adapted to discharge the fluid flowing from the at least one drain slot (118).