DESC:Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a switch assembly.
Background
[0002] In a conventional switch assembly comprising multiple rocker switches, an inner rocker is provided underneath each of said rocker switches. The inner rocker provides for support to the corresponding rocker switch during an operation of the rocker switch. That is, during switching ON or OFF of the rocker switch, the inner rocker provides support to the rocker switch thereby avoiding improper press experience when the rocker switch is operated.
[0003] In conventional switches assemblies, the inner rocker switches are supported by a switch cover at both ends, thus providing the necessary support during the operation of the corresponding rocker switch. The switch cover includes for protrusions that support the corresponding component of the inner rocker during the operation. However, owing to the requirements of the standard of such switch assemblies, an inner rocker that is provided on a periphery in the conventional switch assembly is not provided with adequate support as it is not supported by the switch cover at one end. As a result, the plunger position is no longer centric and tilting of the peripheral inner rocker occurs during the operation of the corresponding rocker switch. This results in a spoilt operation experience for the user who is operating such peripheral rocker switches.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for solution to address at least one of the aforementioned deficiencies.
Summary
[0005] 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.
[0006] In an embodiment, a switch assembly is disclosed. The switch assembly comprises a plurality of rocker switches. The switch assembly further comprises a base plate surrounding the plurality of rocker switches, where the base plate comprises at least one extension. Furthermore, the switch assembly comprises a plurality of inner rockers corresponding to the plurality of rocker switches, where each inner rocker is disposed under a corresponding rocker switch. At least one inner rocker comprises a bridge and a protrusion extending from the bridge, such that in an assembled state of the switch assembly, the protrusion is in contact with the extension.
[0007] 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
[0008] 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:
[0009] Fig. 1 illustrates a switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0010] Fig. 2(a) illustrates different views of an inner rocker corresponding to a peripheral rocker switch, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0011] Fig. 2(b) illustrates different views of an inner rocker corresponding to the peripheral rocker switch of a switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0012] Fig. 3 illustrates a base plate of a switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0013] Fig. 4 illustrates a view of one or more components of a switch assembly in an assembled state thereof, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0014] 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
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.”
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.”
[0019] 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.”
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown in the figure, the switch assembly 100 comprises a mounting box 102, a cover plate 104, and a plurality of rocker switches 106-1 to 106-N. In an example, the mounting box 102 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of components of the switch assembly 100. Examples of the components may include, but are not limited to, a base plate, a switch cover, the rocker switches 106, a plurality of inner rockers corresponding to the rocker switches 106, and backpiece.
[0026] In a non-limiting example, the mounting box 102 may be made of at least one of plastic, alloy, metal, and the like. The cover plate 104 may be configured to couple to the mounting box 102 so as to form an enclosure wherein the one or more of the components of the switch assembly 100 may be accommodated.
[0027] The rocker switches 106 may be configured to facilitate supply of electricity to any external electrical device, such as, for example, a fan, a tubelight, a Television, and the like, that is operatively coupled to the switch assembly 100. For example, in a first operation position, say an ON position, a rocker switch 106 may permit the flow of electricity to the external device. While, in a second position, say an OFF position, the rocker switch 106 may terminate the flow of electricity to the external device.
[0028] In conventional switch assemblies, during operation of the rocker switches that are provided on periphery of a switch assembly, hereinafter “peripheral rocker switch”, a user experiences spoilt operation feeling. This occurs because of the design of the conventional switch assembly. The design is such that the plunger position is not maintained in a centric manner as there is no support on an end of an inner rocker corresponding to a given peripheral rocker switch. Therefore during operation of the rocker switch, the inner rocker tilts, thereby resulting in spoilt operation feeling when a user switches the position of the peripheral rocker switch.
[0029] According to aspects of the present subject matter, the base plate (not shown in this figure) and the inner rocker (not shown in this figure) corresponding to a peripheral rocker switch 106, such as the rocker switch 106-1 or 106-N, are adapted such that the inner rocker is supported adequately at both ends. As a result, the inner rocker does not tilt during the operation of the peripheral rocker switch 106-1. Thus, as the plunger position is maintained, the user experience of operating the peripheral rocker switch 106-1 is improved.
[0030] Fig. 2(a) illustrates different views of an inner rocker 200 corresponding to a peripheral rocker switch, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. In the figure, view 202 illustrates a top view of the inner rocker 200 and view 204 illustrates a bottom view of the inner rocker 200.
[0031] As can be seen in both the view, an end of the inner rocker 200 comprises a recess 206. The recess 206, in an example, may be configured to accommodate an edge of an extension of a base plate. As described herein, the edge provides for support to the inner rocker 200 during the operation of the peripheral rocker switch.
[0032] Furthermore, in an example embodiment, the recess 206 may include a bridge 218 extending from one end “A” of the recess 206 to another end “B” of the recess 206. In an example, the bridge 218 may comprise a protrusion, as shown in Fig. 2(b). This protrusion in an example, in an example, has a same plane as that of the bridge 218 and extends towards the edge of the extension of the base plate. In an assembled state of the switch assembly 100, the protrusion makes contact with the edge of the extension, thereby restricting downward movement of the inner rocker 200 and, in turn, the peripheral rocker switch 106-1, when a force is applied by the user to operate the rocker switch 106-1. As adequate support is provided to the inner rocker 200, this minimizes/reduces/eliminates tilting of the inner rocker 200 during operation of the peripheral rocker switch. This results in an enhanced operation experience for the user when using the peripheral rocker switch.
[0033] Another view 220 of the inner rocker is shown, according to an example. The view 220 illustrates the bridge 218 and the protrusion 212 extending from the bridge 218.
[0034] Fig. 2(b) illustrates different views of the inner rocker 200 corresponding to the peripheral rocker switch 106-1 of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. In the figure, view 208 illustrates a top view of the inner rocker 200 and view 210 illustrates a bottom view of the inner rocker 200. As can be seen in both the view, the inner rocker 200 comprises the bridge 218 in the recess 206 of the inner rocker 200. The bridge 218 comprising the protrusion 212 is also shown in view 214 of the inner rocker 200.
[0035] In an example, for accommodating the protrusion 212 in the recess 206, the recess 206 comprises a bridge-type structure, such as the bridge 218, and the protrusion 212 extends from the bridge-type structure. Therefore, in an assembled state of the switch assembly 100, the inner rocker 200 is supported at the end where the recess 206 is present. This results in minimizing the tilting of the inner rocker 200 during the operation of the peripheral rocker switch 106-1. This results in an enhanced or good operation experience for the user when using the peripheral rocker switch 106-1.
[0036] Fig. 3 illustrates a base plate 300 of the switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. As shown, the base plate 300 comprises a plurality of extensions 302. As described herein, the extensions 302 are accommodated in the recess 206 of the inner rocker 200. In an example, the base plate 300 may include as many extensions 302 as the number of peripheral rocker switches 106, to support their corresponding inner rockers 208.
[0037] In an example, each of the extensions 302 may include a contact edge 304 and a through-hole 306. The contact edge 304 may be understood as an edge of the extension 302 where the protrusion 212 makes contact in an assembled state of the switch assembly 100. Accordingly, the contact edge 304 supports the inner rocker 200 and when an external force is received during the operation of the peripheral rocker switch, the tilting of the inner rocker 200 is restricted.
[0038] The through-holes 306 provides for accommodating corresponding screws (not shown in the figure) that may be used during the assembling of the switch assembly 100. Accordingly, the compliance to standard for the switches assemblies is also maintained. Thus, the switch assembly 100 described herein is standard compliant as well and at the same time provides for enhanced user experience of operating switches by avoiding tilting of the inner rocker 200.
[0039] Fig. 4 illustrates a view 400 showing one or more components of the switch assembly 100 in an assembled state thereof, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. In the assembled state of the switch assembly 100, the inner rocker 200 is provided underneath a peripheral rocker switch, such as the rocker switch 106-1 or 106-N. As described herein, the recess 206 of the inner rocker 200 accommodates the extension 302 of the base plate 300.
[0040] Furthermore, as may be seen, the protrusion 212 may be in contact with the contact edge 304, thus supporting the inner rocker 200. Accordingly, tilting of the inner rocker 200 is avoided during the operation of the corresponding peripheral rocker switch. Furthermore, the through-hole 306 provides for easy passage of a screw 402 as per the standard. Thus, compliance of the standard is also maintained.
[0041] 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 switch assembly (100) comprising:
a plurality of rocker switches (106);
a base plate (300) surrounding the plurality of rocker switches (106), wherein the base plate (300) comprises at least one extension (302); and
a plurality of inner rockers (200) corresponding to the plurality of rocker switches (106), wherein each inner rocker (200) is disposed under a corresponding rocker switch (106), and wherein at least one inner rocker (200) comprises:
a bridge (218); and
a protrusion (212) extending from the bridge (218), such that in an assembled state of the switch assembly (100), the protrusion (212) is in contact with the extension (302).

2. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim1, wherein the at least one inner rocker (200) further comprises a recess (206) configured to accommodate the at least one extension (302).

3. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bridge (218) is provided between two end points of the recess (206).

4. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protrusion (212) is accommodated within the recess (206).

5. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bridge (218) and the protrusion (212) have a same plane, and wherein the protrusion (212) extends towards the at least one extension (302).

6. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one extension (302) comprises a contact edge (304).

7. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protrusion (212) is in contact with the contact edge (304) in an assembled state of the switch assembly (100).

8. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim1, comprising at least two extensions (302) and at least two protrusions (212).

9. The switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim1, wherein the at least one extension (302) comprises a screw hole (306) for accommodating a screw.