DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to switching device and more particularly, relates to a switching device with improved operability.

BACKGROUND

Commonly, electrical switching devices are employed for operating a wide range of appliances by controlling a flow of current to such appliances. In particular, the electrical switching devices are employed in electrical circuits to divert or interrupt the flow of current flowing towards the appliances, and thereby switching-ON or switching-OFF such appliances. The electrical switching devices include a plurality of switches which are adapted to be operated by a user in order to switch-ON or switch-OFF various appliances. Such switches must be designed with the optimal operating area in order to enhance overall operability and user experience. For instance, switches with wider operating area are easier to operate, and thereby increase overall operability.

Usually, size of the switches to be employed in the switching device may be determined based on constructional details of various sub-components of the electrical switching device. In particular, construction of various sub-components may require to be altered in order to employ the switches with different sizes. For instance, in order to employ large switches with wider operating area, sub-components of the switching device may be manufactured with larger dimensions to support such large switches. Therefore, such sub-components of the electrical switching device are required to be manufactured based on the size of the switches to be employed in the electrical switching device. However, this may result in a substantial increase in overall manufacturing cost. Further, this may lead to a substantial reduction in overall reusability of the switching device with the switches having different sizes.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved electrical switching device which can support switches with different sizes without altering the construction of sub-components of such switching device.

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, a switching device is disclosed. The switching device includes a housing member and a plurality of rockers adapted to be mounted on the housing member. Further, the switching device includes a plurality of supporting members adapted to support the plurality of rockers. Each of the plurality of supporting members includes a pair of extending portion adapted to be coupled to the at least one of the plurality of rockers. Further, each of the plurality of supporting members includes an intermediate portion disposed between the pair of extending portion and adapted to push a movable contact element of the switching device to operate the switching device. The intermediate portion pushes the movable contact element by moving the at least one the plurality of rockers connected to the pair of extended portions.

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 front view of a switching device having a plurality of switches, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the switching device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the switching device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate different partial perspective views of the switching device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d illustrate different views of a supporting member for each of the plurality of switches, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6a illustrates a partial perspective views of the switching device, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6b and 6c illustrate perspective views of the supporting members of the switching device, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7 illustrates an exploded view depicting one of the plurality of switches and the supporting member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 8 illustrates a partial side view of the switching device depicting various components of the switching device, 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 front view of a switching device 100 having a plurality of switches 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The switching device may be employed in houses and similar premises for operating various electronic devices, such as household appliances. For instance, each of the plurality of switches 102 of the switching device 100 may be employed to switch-ON or switch-OFF an operation of an electrical appliance. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of switches 102 may be embodied as rocker switches and therefore, interchangeably be referred to as one of a rocker 102 and a rocker switch 102, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the plurality of switches 102 may interchangeably be referred to as the plurality of rockers 102.

Although, the present disclosure is explained with respect to the plurality of rockers 102. It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure can equally be implemented with respect to other types of switches, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the switching device 100 may be provided with a plurality of supporting members 302 (shown in Figure 3) which enables mounting of the plurality of rockers 102 having different dimensional characteristics on the switching device 100. In particular, owing to implementation of the plurality of supporting members 302, the plurality of rockers 102 with different dimensional characteristics may be mounted on the switching device 100 without altering construction of sub-components of the switching device 100.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of rockers 102 may be removably coupled to the one of the plurality of supporting members 302. Each of the plurality of rockers 102 may be adapted to be removed from one of the plurality of supporting members 302 and subsequently can be replaced with a rocker having different dimensional characteristics based on the requirement. Each of the plurality of rockers 102 may be operable between an ON-position and an OFF-position to switch-ON and switch-OFF, respectively, the operation of the electrical appliance. Constructional and operational details of the switching device 100 and the plurality of supporting members 302 are explained in detail in the subsequent sections of the disclosure.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the switching device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the switching device 100 includes, but is not limited to, a cover plate 202, a mounting plate 204, and a housing member 206. In an embodiment, the cover plate 202 may be adapted to be mounted on the mounting plate 204. The mounting plate 204 may be adapted to be fixed on an installation surface. In an embodiment, the installation surface may include, but is not limited to, a wall and a ceiling. Further, the housing member 206 may be adapted to accommodate various sub-components of the switching device 100.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the switching device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3, the switching device 100 may include, but is not limited to, the plurality of rockers 102, the plurality of supporting members 302, a switch cover 304, and an electrical contact assembly 306. The plurality of rockers 102 may be adapted to be mounted on the housing member 206. The plurality of supporting members 302 may be adapted to support the plurality of rockers 102 on the housing member 206. The switch cover 304 may be adapted to be removably coupled to the housing member 206. In an embodiment, the switch cover 304 may be removably coupled to the housing member 206 through snap locks, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the switch cover 304 may be adapted to support the plurality of supporting members 302 on the housing member 206. In an embodiment, the plurality of rockers 102 and the plurality of supporting members 302 may interchangeably be referred to as the rockers 102 and the supporting members 302, respectively, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate different partial perspective views of the switching device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, each of the rockers 102 may be adapted to be coupled with each of the supporting members 302. Each of the supporting members 302 may be adapted to connect each of the rockers 102 to the electrical contact assembly 306. Referring to Figure 4a and Figure 4b, in the illustrated embodiment, the switching device 100 may include four rockers and four supporting members. However, it should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it should not be construed as limiting, and the switching device 100 may include multiple rockers and multiple supporting members, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rockers 102 may individually be referred to as the rocker 102-1, the rocker 102-2, the rocker 102-3, and the rocker 102-4, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, the supporting members 302 may individually be referred to as the supporting member 302-1, the supporting member 302-2, the supporting member 302-3, and the supporting member 302-4, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in Figure 4b, the rockers 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, and 102-4 may be coupled to the supporting members 302-1, 302-2, 302-3, and 302-4, respectively. Further, the supporting members 302-1, 302-2, 302-3, may be in contact with the electrical contact assembly 306 of the switching device 100, which is explained in detail with respect to the Figure 6 of the present disclosure. Constructional and operational details of the supporting members 302 are explained with respect to only one supporting member 302-1. However, it should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure is equally applicable to other supporting members 302-2, 302-3, and 302-4, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d illustrate different views of the supporting member 302-1 for the rocker 102-1 of the switching device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 5a, Figure 5b, and Figure 5c, the supporting member 302-1 may include a pair of extending portions 502, 504 adapted to be coupled to the rocker 102-1. The pair of extending portions 502, 504 may include, but is not limited to, a first extending portion 502 and a second extending portion 504. In an embodiment, the second extending portion 504 may be extended in a direction opposite to the first extending portion 502 and along an axis Y-Y’ of the supporting member 302-1.

Figure 6a illustrates a partial perspective views of the switching device 100, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figures 6b and 6c illustrate perspective views of the supporting members of the switching device 100, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 6a and Figure 6b, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the supporting members 302 may include a beam 602 extending between the pair of extending portion 502, 504 and adapted to enhance overall strength of the supporting members 302. The beam 602 may extend between the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 of each of the supporting members 302. The beam 602 may connect the first extending portion 502 to the second extending portion 504 to enhance strength of the supporting members 302.

In the illustrated embodiment, a shape of the beam 602 for the supporting members 302 disposed at ends, such as a first end 604-1 and a second end 604-2, of the switching device 100 is different from a shape of the beam 602 for the supporting members 302 disposed between the ends of the switching device 100. For instance, referring to Figure 6b, the supporting member 302-1 disposed at the first end 604-1 may include a beam 106-1 extending between the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 of the supporting member 302-1. Similarly, the supporting member 302-4 disposed at the second end 604-2 may include the beam 106-1 extending between the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 of the supporting member 302-4.

Further, referring to Figure 6c, the supporting member 302-2 may include a beam 106-2 extending between the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 of the supporting member 302-2. Similarly, the supporting member 302-3 may include the beam 106-2 extending between the first extending portion 502 and thee second extending portion 504 of the supporting member 302-3. In the illustrated embodiment, the shape of the beam 102-1 is different from the shape of the beam 102-2. The shape of the beam 102 may be varied based on positioning of the supporting members 302 in the switching device 100.

Figure 7 illustrates an exploded view depicting one of the plurality of rockers 102 and the supporting member 302-1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 may be adapted to be coupled to the rocker 102-1. In the illustrated embodiment, referring to Figure 7, each of the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 may be removably coupled to the rocker 102-1 through snap locks. In such an embodiment, each of the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 may include a protrusion 702 adapted to be coupled to the rocker 102-1. The rocker 102-1 may include, but is not limited to, a pair of snap locks 704-1, 704-2 adapted to be snap-locked with the protrusion 702 of each of the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 to couple the rocker 102-1 with the supporting member 302-1. In an embodiment, the supporting member 302-1 may be coupled to the rocker 102-1 in a manner that the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 may be aligned to a central axis X-X’ of the rocker 102-1 along a lateral direction.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate portion 506 may be disposed between the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504. The intermediate portion 506 may be offset from each of the first extending portion 502 and the second extending portion 504 in the lateral direction with respect to the axis Y-Y’ of the supporting member 302-1. In an embodiment, the supporting member 302-1 may be adapted to be removably coupled to the rocker 102-1 in a manner that the intermediate portion 506 may be offset to the central axis X-X’ of the rocker 102-1.

In an embodiment, the intermediate portion 506 may be adapted to push a movable contact element 802 (shown in Figure 8) of the switching device 100 to operate the switching device 100. The intermediate portion 506 may be adapted to push the movable contact element 702 by moving the rocker 102-1 coupled to the pair of extended portions, i.e., the first extended portion 502 and the second extended portion 504. For instance, when the rocker 102-1 is moved between the ON-position and the OFF-position, then the intermediate portion 506 may push the movable contact element 702 to operate the switching device 100.

Figure 8 illustrates a partial side view of the switching device 100 depicting various components of the switching device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 5a, Figure 5b, Figure 5c, Figure 5d, Figure 6a, Figure 6b, Figure 6c, Figure 7, and Figure 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the supporting member 302-1 may include an actuating portion 508 extending from the intermediate portion 506 in a downward direction. The actuating portion 508 may be adapted to be in contact with the electrical contact assembly 306 of the switching device 100.

Referring to Figure 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the actuating portion 508 may be adapted to be in contact with the movable contact element 802 of the electrical contact assembly 306. The movable contact element 802 may be pivotally disposed in the housing member 206. The movable contact element 802 may be adapted to be pivotally moved through the actuating portion 508 of the supporting member 302-1 to form intermittent contact with one of a first electrical terminal 804-1 and a second electrical terminal 804-2 of the electrical contact assembly 306.

In an embodiment, the actuating portion 508 may be adapted to slide on the movable contact element 802, when the rocker 102-1 is moved between the ON-position and the OFF-position. In particular, upon the movement of the rocker 102-1, the actuating portion 508 of the supporting member 302-1 may slide on the movable contact element 802 and simultaneously push the movable contact element 802 in the downward direction. In one instance, when the rocker 102-1 is moved to the ON-position, the movable contact element 802 forms a contact with the first electrical terminal 804-1. In another instance, when the rocker 102-1 is moved to the OFF-position, the movable contact element 802 forms a contact with the second electrical terminal 804-2.

In an embodiment, the actuating portion 508 may be provided with a cavity 510 (as shown in Figure 5d) adapted to accommodate a plunger 706. In such an embodiment, the plunger 706 may be adapted to be in contact with the movable contact element 802 of the electrical contact assembly 306. The plunger 706 may be adapted to push the movable contact element 702 of the electrical contact assembly 306 to operate the switching device 100. In such an embodiment, upon the movement of the rocker 102-1, the plunger 706 may slide on the movable contact element 802 and simultaneously push the movable contact element 802 in the downward direction. In one instance, when the rocker 102-1 is moved to the ON-position, the plunger 706 may slide on the movable contact element 802 to form a contact between the first electrical terminal 804-1 and the movable contact element 802. In another instance, when the rocker 102-1 is moved to the OFF-position, the plunger 706 may slide on the movable contact element 802 to form a contact between the second electrical terminal 804-2 and the movable contact element 802.

As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the switching device 100 having the provided with a plurality of supporting members 302 which enables mounting of the plurality of rockers 102 having different dimensional characteristics on the switching device 100. As mentioned earlier, the switching device 100 may be disposed on constructional surfaces, such as walls, for operating various electrical appliances. Therefore, the switching device 100 has a wide range of applications.

Further, as explained earlier, the supporting members 302 may be provided for connecting the rockers 102 to the electrical contact assembly 306 of the switching device 100. The supporting members 302 may be designed such that the rockers 102 having different sizes can be employed in the switching device 100 without altering the construction of other sub-components of the switching device 100. In particular, the supporting members 302 eliminates requirement of manufacturing the sub-components, such as the electrical contact assembly 306, based on the size of the rockers to be employed in the switching device 100. This results in a substantial reduction in overall manufacturing cost of the switching device 100. For instance, rockers with wider operating area can be employed in the switching device 100 without altering construction of other sub-components of the switching device 100. Owing to the rockers 102 with wider operating area, the rockers 102 can be operated by the user with ease. Therefore, the switching device 100 of the present disclosure is flexible in implementation, cost-effective, convenient, and has a wide range of applications.

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:1. A switching device (100) comprising:
a housing member (206);
a plurality of rockers (102) adapted to be mounted on the housing member (206); and
a plurality of supporting members (302) adapted to support the plurality of rockers (102), each of the plurality of supporting members (302) comprising:
a pair of extending portions (502, 504) adapted to be coupled to the at least one of the plurality of rockers (102); and
an intermediate portion (506) disposed between the pair of extending portions (502, 504) and adapted to push a movable contact element (802) of the switching device (100) to operate the switching device (100),
wherein the intermediate portion (506) pushes the movable contact element (802) by moving the at least one of the plurality of rockers (102) coupled to the pair of extended portions (502, 504).

2. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of extending portions (502, 504) of a supporting member (302-1) from among the plurality of supporting members (302) comprises:
a first extending portion (502); and
a second extending portion (504) extended in a direction opposite to the first extending portion (502) and along an axis (Y-Y’) of the supporting member (302-1).

3. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the first extending portion (502) and the second extending portion (504) are removably coupled to a rocker (102-1) from among the plurality of rockers (102) through snap locks.

4. The switching device (100) as claimed in any of claims 2 and 3, wherein a supporting member (302-1) from the among the plurality of supporting members (102) is removably coupled to the rocker (102-1) in a manner that the first extending portion (502) and the second extending portion (504) are aligned to a central axis (X-X’) of the rocker (102-1) along a lateral direction.

5. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate portion (506) is formed offset from each of the first extending portion (502) and the second extending portion (504) in the lateral direction with respect to the axis (Y-Y’) of the supporting member (302-1).

6. The switching device (100) as claimed in any of claims 4 and 5, wherein the supporting member (302-1) is adapted to be removably coupled to the rocker (102-1) in a manner that the intermediate portion (506) is offset to the central axis (X-X’) of the rocker (102-1).

7. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting member (302-1) includes an actuating portion (508) extending from the intermediate portion (506) in a downward direction.

8. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuating portion (508) is adapted to be in contact with the movable contact element (802).

9. The switching device (100) as claimed claim 8, wherein the actuating portion (508) is provided with a cavity (510) adapted to accommodate a plunger (706) in contact with the movable contact element (802).

10. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plunger (706) is adapted to push the movable contact element (802) of an electrical contact assembly (306) to operate the switching device (100).

11. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a switch cover (304) adapted to be removably coupled to the housing member (206) and adapted to support the plurality of supporting members (302) on the housing member (206).

12. The switching device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the supporting members (302) includes a beam (602) extending between the pair of extending portions (502, 504) and adapted to enhance strength of the supporting member (302).