DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to electrical switches and more particularly, relates to a bell-push switch with an improved structure.

BACKGROUND

An electric switch is an electrical device used to open or close an electric circuit. One type of electric switch is a push switch that is used to ring an electric bell. The bell push switch is a non-latching switch that temporarily closes the electric circuit when a user operates a switch. Currently, the push switch has a box-shaped housing based installed in the wall which houses all the electric wires. The push switch also includes a back plate installed on the housing and a front plate installed on the back plate. The front plate also includes a switch installed thereon which can temporarily close the electric circuit. Generally, the switch may have an aesthetically appealing cover for a user to push to operate the switch.

There are some limitations associated with the current design of the push switch. For instance, the current design employs a separate front plate and back plate which increases the cost associated with the push switch. Moreover, the use of a greater number of parts reduces the serviceability of the push switch. In addition, the front panel also limits the size of the switch and cover thereby limiting the area that the user may operate. Further, in existing switches, the switch, such as a rocker, is moved within a space defined by the front plate of the push switch. However, such an arrangement is susceptible to the accumulation of contaminants, such as dust, between the switch and other components of the push switch. This substantially reduces the overall service life of the push switch. Further, due to constructional constraints of the switch and the back plate, an optimal degree of movement for the switch cannot be achieved in the existing switches. This substantially reduces the overall user experience while operating the switch.

Therefore, there is a need for a bell-push switch with improved aesthetics and improved operational characteristics.

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.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved bell-push switch is disclosed. The improved bell-push switch comprises a supporting plate having a pair of side walls and an opening defined between the pair of side walls. Further, the improved bell-push switch comprises an operating panel disposed on the supporting plate and adapted to be moved with respect to the supporting plate. The operating panel comprises a pair of peripheral portions adapted to conceal the pair of side walls and partially abut at least a portion of each of the pair of side walls. The improved bell-push switch comprises a rocker operably coupled to the operating panel and partially positioned in the opening of the supporting plate. The rocker is adapted to be moved based on a pivotal movement of the operating panel with respect to the supporting plate. A gap is defined between a portion of each of the pair of peripheral regions and a portion of each of the side walls, and is adapted to be varied based on the pivotal movement of the operating panel.

To further clarify the 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 1 illustrates a perspective view of an improved bell-push switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a side view and a planar view, respectively, of the improved bell-push switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the improved bell-push switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c illustrate different views of a supporting plate of the improved bell-push switch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrate different views of an operating panel of the improved bell-push switch, 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 been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. 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 this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof 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, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, 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 such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element 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 one having ordinary skills 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 presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as 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 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 alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively 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 be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.

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

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an improved bell-push switch 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a side view and a planar view, respectively, of the improved bell-push switch 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the improved bell-push switch 100 may interchangeably be referred to as the bell-push switch 100, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The bell-push switch 100 may be employed to operate an electrical device, such as an electrical bell.

In an embodiment, the bell-push switch 100 may be adapted to temporarily establish an electrical contact to activate the electrical bell, such as a doorbell. Alternatively, the bell-push switch 100 may be employed to operate any other electrical equipment or device known in the art, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In either implementation, the bell-push switch 100 may allow temporary activation of the electrical device based on the need of the user. Constructional and operational details of the bell-push switch 100 are explained in subsequent sections of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the bell-push switch 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, referring to Figures 1, 2a-2b, and 3, the bell-push switch 100 may include, but is not limited to, a supporting plate 102, an operating panel 104, and a rocker 106. The bell-push switch 100 may be adapted to be mounted on a surface, such as a wall, via an electrical module 108. In an embodiment, the electrical module 108 may be positioned within the wall and adapted to support the bell-push switch 100.

The electrical module 108 may be adapted to accommodate a plurality of electrical wires that connect the bell-push switch 100 to an electrical device. In the illustrated embodiment, referring to Figure 3, the electrical module 108 may include an opening 302 formed on a back surface of the electrical module 108. The opening 302 may allow the plurality of electrical wires to be guided within the electrical module 108. The electrical module 108 may also include a plurality of depressions 304 formed on a plurality of walls of the electrical module 108.

The plurality of depressions 304 may be adapted to be removed to form a plurality of openings for guiding the electrical wires within the electrical module 108. Therefore, the plurality of depressions 304 may allow a person installing the electrical module 108 to have different options to insert the electric wires within the electrical module 108 based on the requirement. The electrical module 108 may be formed of one of metallic material and a non-metallic material, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Further, the supporting plate 102 of the bell-push switch 100 may be adapted to be mounted on the electrical module 108 positioned within the wall. Referring to Figure 3, the electrical module 108 may include a pair of mounting holes 306. Each of the pair of mounting holes 306 may be adapted to receive fasteners to secure the supporting plate 102 to the electrical module 108. Further, the operating panel 104 and the rocker 106 may be adapted to be operably coupled to the supporting plate 102.

Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c illustrate different views of the supporting plate 102 of the bell-push switch 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned earlier, the supporting plate 102 may be adapted to be mounted on the wall and coupled to the electrical module 108 positioned within the wall. In particular, the supporting plate 102 may be mounted outside the wall via the electrical module 108. In an implementation, the supporting plate 102 may be sized in a manner that the supporting plate 102 conceals the electrical module 108 positioned within the wall.

The supporting plate 102 may be provided to prevent dust particles from entering the electrical module 108. In an implementation, the supporting plate 102 may have a similar shape compared to the operating panel 104. In an embodiment, the supporting plate 108 may include a plurality of grooves 402 formed at corners of the supporting plate 108. Each of the plurality of grooves 402 may be adapted to receive a plurality of fastening members, such as screws, to mount the supporting plate 108 on the wall.

Referring to Figure 3, Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c, the supporting plate 102 may include, but is not limited to a top end 404, a bottom end 406 distal to the top end 404, and a pair of side portions 408. In an embodiment, the supporting plate 102 may include a first overhanging wall 410 and a second overhanging wall 412 distal to the first overhanging wall 410. The first overhanging wall 410 may be disposed at the top end 404 of the supporting plate 102. Further, the second overhanging wall 412 may be disposed at the bottom end 406 of the supporting plate 102.

In an embodiment, the supporting plate 102 may include, but is not limited to, an inner surface 414 and an outer surface 416 opposite to the inner surface 414. The supporting plate 102 may be adapted to be coupled to the electrical module 108 and the operating panel 104 in a manner that the inner surface 414 may face the operating panel 104 and the outer surface 116 may face the electrical module 108. The supporting plate 102 may include a pair of side walls 418 formed on the pair of side portions 408 of the supporting plate 102.

Further, the supporting plate 102 may include an opening 420 defined between the pair of side walls 418. The supporting plate 102 may be adapted to be coupled to the electrical module 108 in a manner that the opening 420 may align with the electrical module 108. The supporting plate 102 may include a plurality of engaging seats 422 adapted to couple the rocker 106 to the supporting plate 102. Each of the plurality of engaging seats 422 may be formed around a periphery of the opening 420 and laterally protruded from the periphery of the opening 420. Each of the plurality of engaging seats 422 may include a plurality of locking holes 307 (as shown in Figure 3) adapted to be engaged with snap locks 106-1 of the rocker 106. The snap locks 106-1 and the plurality of locking holes 307 may ensure that the rocker 106 is firmly mounted on the supporting plate 102.

Referring to Figures 4a-4c, the supporting plate 102 may include a plurality of slots 422 formed in proximity of the opening 420. Each of the plurality of slots 422 may be adapted to receive a fastening member, such as screws, for mounting the supporting plate 102 on the electrical module 108. The supporting plate 102 may be positioned on the electrical module 108 in a manner that the plurality of slots 422 may align with the pair of mounting holes 306 to receive fastening members to mount the supporting plate 102 on the electrical module 108.

Further, referring to Figure 3, the rocker 106 may be adapted to be positioned between the supporting plate 102 and the operating panel 104. The rocker 106 may be operably coupled to the operating panel 104 and partially positioned in the opening 420 of the supporting plate 102. The rocker 106 may be adapted to be moved based on a pivotal movement of the operating panel 104 with respect to the supporting plate 102. The rocker 106 may include, but is not limited to, a first electrical terminal 308, a second electrical terminal 310, a mounting support 312, and a spring-loaded panel 314.

Each of the first electrical terminal 308 and the second electrical terminal 310 may be adapted to connect the rocker 106 with the electrical device via the electrical wires. The mounting support 312 may be provided with the snap locks 106-1 adapted to be engaged with the plurality of engaging seats 422 of the supporting plate 102. The spring-loaded panel 314 may be adapted to be pivotally moved between an ON-state and an OFF-state. In the ON-state, the spring-loaded panel 314 may form an electrical contact to allow a supply of electric current to the electrical device. The spring-loaded panel 314 may remain in the ON-state when a force is applied to the spring-loaded panel 314. When the force is withdrawn, the spring-loaded panel 314 may move to the OFF-state to stop a flow of electric current to the electrical device.

In an embodiment, the mounting support 312 may be adapted to removably couple the rocker 106 to the operating panel 104. The rocker 106 may be designed to be replaced in case of its failure without changing the complete bell-push switch 100 and thereby, enhancing the serviceability of the bell-push switch 100. During an operation of the bell-push switch 100, the rocker 106 may work synergistically with the operating panel 104 to activate the electric device, such as the doorbell. For instance, the operating panel 104 may be pivotally moved by the user which, in turn, moves the spring-loaded panel 314 of the rocker 106 to establish the electrical contact.

As mentioned earlier, the supporting plate 102 may include the pair of side walls 418 formed on the pair of side portions 408. Referring to Figures 4b and 4c, each of the side walls 418 may include a first contour 424 and a second contour 426 adjacent to the first contour 424. The second contour 426 may include a slope decreasing towards the bottom end 406 of the supporting plate 102. The side walls 418 may be adapted to partially abut the operating panel 104 of the bell-push switch 100. In particular, the first contour 424 may abut a portion of the operation panel 104 when the rocker 106 is at the OFF-state. Further, the second contour 426 may abut a portion of the operation panel 104 when the rocker 106 is moved to the ON-state. Constructional and operational details of the operating panel 104 are explained in subsequent sections of the present disclosure.

Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrate different views of the operating panel 104 of the bell-push switch 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the operating panel 104 may be disposed on the supporting plate 102 and adapted to be moved with respect to the supporting plate 102. The operating panel 104 may form a face of the bell-push switch 100. The operating panel 104 may allow the user to operate the rocker 106. In an embodiment, the operating panel 104 may be mounted on the supporting plate 102 in a manner that the operating panel 104 may be pivotally moved between the first overhanging wall 410 and the second overhanging wall 412 of the supporting plate 102. Further, the operating panel 104 may be mounted on the supporting plate 102 in a manner that at least a portion of the operating panel 104 may remain in contact with the pair of side walls 418 of the supporting plate 102.

In an embodiment, the operating panel 104 may be adapted to be pivotally moved between an operating position and a non-operating position. The operating position 104 of the operation panel 104 may correspond to the ON-state of the rocker 106. Further, the non-operating position of the operation panel 104 may correspond to the OFF-state of the rocker 106. The operating panel 104 may overlap the inner surface 414 of the supporting plate 102 and the rocker 106 when the operating panel 104 is installed on the supporting plate 102. As a result, the operating plate 104 does away with the need for a separate front plate used in conventional electric switches.

In the illustrated embodiment, the operating panel 104 may include a front surface 502 adapted to be pushed to pivotally move the operating panel 104 and a rear surface 504 adapted to be coupled to the rocker 106. The rear surface 504 may include, but is not limited to, a plurality of engaging members 506 and a plurality of protrusions 508. The plurality of engaging members 506 may be protruding from the rear surface 504 and adapted to be engaged with the rocker 106. The plurality of protrusions 508 may be adapted to pivotally push the rocker 106 based on the pivotal movement of the operating panel 104.

For instance, when the operating panel 104 is pivotally moved to the operating position, then one of the plurality of protrusion 508 may push the rocker 106 to the ON-state to supply the electrical current to the electronic device connected to the bell-push switch 100. Similarly, when the force from the operating panel 104 is withdrawn, then the operating panel 104 may return to the non-operating position. Subsequently, owing to the resilient force, one of the plurality of protrusion 508 may push the rocker 106 to the OFF-state.

Further, the operating panel 104 may include a pair of peripheral portions 510 adapted to conceal the pair of side walls 418 and partially abut at least a portion of each of the pair of side walls 418 of the supporting plate 102. Each of the pair of peripheral portions 510 may include a variable wall having a first portion 512, a second portion 514, and an intermediate portion 516 defined between the first portion 512 and the second portion 514. In an embodiment, a contour 518 of the variable wall gradually descends from the first portion 512 towards the intermediate portion 516. Further, a contour 520 of the variable wall remains constant between the intermediate portion 516 and the second portion 512.

In an embodiment, the first contour 424 of the supporting plate 102 may be adapted to abut the contour 518 of the variable wall defined between the first portion 512 and the intermediate portion 516 of the operating panel 104. Further, the second contour 426 may be adapted to abut the contour 520 of the variable wall defined between the intermediate portion 516 and the second portion 514 of the operating panel 104, when the operating panel 104 is pivotally moved to the operating position to operate the rocker 106.

Referring to Figure 5b, in the illustrated embodiment, a width of the variable wall may gradually increase from the first portion 212 towards the second portion 514. A width of the variable wall corresponding to the contour 520 may be larger compared to a width of the variable wall corresponding to the contour 518. Such constructional aspect of the operating panel 104 may provide a robust operating feel to the user while pushing the operating panel 104 from a region ‘R’ of the front surface 502 to operate the bell-push switch 100.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2a, in the illustrated embodiment, the operating panel 104 may be positioned on the supporting plate 102 in a manner that a gap 202 is defined between a portion of each of the pair of peripheral regions 510 of the operating panel 102 and a portion of each of the side walls 418 of the supporting plate 102. In an embodiment, the gap 202 may be defined between the second contour 426 of each of the pair of side walls 418 and the contour 514 defined between the intermediate portion 516 and the second portion 514 of the variable wall.

In an embodiment, the gap 202 may be adapted to be varied based on the pivotal movement of the operating panel 104. The gap may be varied to allow egress of air from a space defined between the operating panel 104 and the supporting plate 102 when the operating panel 104 is pivotally moved to the operating position. Owing to the gap, the operating panel 104 can be pivotally moved at a predefined angle to operate the rocker 106. This results in a smooth operation of the operating panel 104 when a user pivotally moves the operating panel 104 to the operating position. Therefore, this substantially improves the overall user experience while operating the bell-push switch 100. In an exemplary implementation, the gap may enable the operating panel 104 to pivotally move by a minimum angle of 7.3 degrees.

As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the bell-push switch 100 with the rocker 106 coupled to operating panel 104 and the supporting plate 102. The rocker 106 may be removably coupled to the operating panel 102 and the supporting plate 104. This reduces the overall complexity of replacing the rocker 106 from the bell-push switch 100. In particular, if the rocker 106 needs to be replaced in case of its failure, then the rocker 106 can be detached from the operating panel 102 and the supporting plate 104 without replacing the entire bell-push switch 100. This substantially reduces the overall service cost of the bell-push switch 100.

Further, the supporting plate 102 and the operating panel 104 can be employed with existing rocker switches. In particular, the plurality of engaging members 506 of the operating panel 104 and the plurality of engaging seats 422 of the supporting plate 102 may enable the attachment of existing rocker switches to the supporting plate 102 and the operating panel 104. Therefore, the bell-push switch 100 is retrofittable and, this substantially reduces the overall manufacturing cost of the bell-push switch 100. Further, the size of the operating panel 104 does away with the need for a separate front panel used in conventional switches thereby reducing the material needed to manufacture the bell-push switch 100. Moreover, avoiding the front plate also enables the increase in the size of the operating panel 106 for a given size of the bell-push switch 100.

Furthermore, as explained earlier, the supporting plate 102 may include the pair of side walls 418 having the first contour 424 and the second contour 426. Further, the operating plate 104 may include the pair of peripheral portions 510 having the variable wall. The contour 518 of the variable wall gradually descends from the first portion 512 towards the intermediate portion 516. The operating panel 104 may be coupled to the supporting plate 102 in a manner that the second contour 426 faces the contour 518 of the variable wall.

Owing to the slope of the second contour 426, the gap is defined between the supporting plate 102 and the operating panel 104. Such a gap may allow the pivotal movement of the operating panel 104 with respect to the supporting plate 102 at the predefined angle. Further, the gap may be varied to allow egress of air from the space defined between the operating panel 104 and the supporting plate 102 when the operating panel 104 is pivotally moved to the operating position. This eliminates the accumulation of contaminants, such as dust, between the supporting plate 102 and the operating panel 104. This substantially increases the overall service life of the bell-push switch 100 and, also reduces the cost involved in servicing the bell-push switch 100.

Therefore, the bell-push switch 100 of the present disclosure is operationally effective, flexible in implementation, cost-effective, light-weight, compact, retrofittable, and convenient.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, 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. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. An improved bell-push switch (100) comprising:
a supporting plate (102) having a pair of side walls (418) and an opening (420) defined between the pair of side walls (418);
an operating panel (104) disposed on the supporting plate (102) and adapted to be moved with respect to the supporting plate (102), wherein the operating panel (104) comprises a pair of peripheral portions (510) adapted to conceal the pair of side walls (418) and partially abut at least a portion of each of the pair of side walls (418); and
a rocker (106) operably coupled to the operating panel (104) and partially positioned in the opening (420) of the supporting plate (102), the rocker (106) adapted to be moved based on a pivotal movement of the operating panel (104) with respect to the supporting plate (102);
wherein a gap (202) is defined between a portion of each of the pair of peripheral regions (510) and a portion of each of the side walls (418), and is adapted to be varied based on the pivotal movement of the operating panel (104).

2. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting plate (102) comprises a first overhanging wall (410) disposed at a top end (404) of the supporting plate (102) and a second overhanging wall (412) distal to the first overhanging wall (410) and disposed at a bottom end (406) of the supporting plate (102).

3. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating panel (104) comprises a front surface (502) adapted to be pushed to pivotally move the operating panel (104) and a rear surface (504) adapted to be coupled to the rocker (106).

4. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear surface (504) comprises:
a plurality of engaging members (506) protruding from the rear surface (504) and adapted to be engaged with the rocker (106); and
a plurality of protrusion (508) adapted to pivotally push the rocker (106) based on the pivotal movement of the operating panel (104).

5. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pair of peripheral portions (510) comprises a variable wall having a first portion (512), a second portion (514), and an intermediate portion (516) defined between the first portion (512) and the second portion (514).

6. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein a contour (518) of the variable wall gradually descends from the first portion (512) towards the intermediate portion (516).

7. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein a contour (518) of the variable wall remains constant between the intermediate portion (516) and the second portion (514).

8. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claims 1 and 5, wherein each of the pair of side walls (418) comprises:
a first contour (424) adapted to abut the contour (518) of the variable wall defined between the first portion (512) and the intermediate portion (516); and
a second contour (426) adjacent to the first contour (424) and having a slope decreasing towards a bottom end (406) of the supporting plate (102), wherein the second contour (426) is adapted to abut the contour (520) of the variable wall defined between the intermediate portion (516) and the second portion (514) when the operating panel (104) is pivotally moved to an operating position to operate the rocker (106).

9. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gap (202) is defined between the second contour (426) of each of the pair of side walls (418) and the contour (520) defined between the intermediate portion (516) and the second portion (514) of the variable wall.

10. The improved bell-push switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap (202) is varied to allow egress of air from a space defined between the operating panel (104) and the supporting plate (102) when the operating panel (104) is pivotally moved to an operating position.