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EP-4309199-B1 - A PUSH BUTTON AND A SYSTEM

EP4309199B1EP 4309199 B1EP4309199 B1EP 4309199B1EP-4309199-B1

Inventors

  • ZAFEIRAKIS, Nikolaos
  • ZAFEIRAKI, Eleni

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220317

Claims (15)

  1. A push button comprising a shell structure (9); a base (1); a support structure (2) that is movable with respect to the base (1), the support structure (2) being simultaneously movable along a first direction (T1) that is normal to a surface (2b) of the support structure and along a second direction (T2) that is parallel to said surface (2b); a set of connection structures (3, 4, 5, 6) hingedly connected to the base (1) at respective first connection points (1a) and to the support structure (2) at respective second connection points (2a), the second connection points (2a) being movable in parallel to each other and in parallel to the support structure (2) and the latter's surface; a pressable structure (10) that is movable along the first direction (T1) and is slidably attached to the support structure, the support structure being between the pressable structure (10) and the base (1); an intermediate structure (15) that is attached to the pressable structure (10) and which with respect to the support structure (2) is slidable along a direction that is opposite to the second direction (T2), characterized in that the shell structure (9) is arranged to restrict the pressable structure (10) from moving along the second direction (T2); and, wherein the pressable structure (10) is attached to the support structure (2) by means of said intermediate structure (15) which is in between said support structure's surface (2b) and the pressable structure (10).
  2. A push button according to claim 1, wherein: the push button further comprises at least one complementary structure (13, 14) that is hingedly attached, at a respective attachment point (3a, 4a), to a corresponding one (3, 4) of the connection structures (3, 4, 5, 6); the corresponding connection structure (3, 4) has a length that extends from the base to the supporting structure; the at least one complementary structure (13, 14) has a different length which is half the corresponding connection structure's length; the respective attachment point (3a, 4a) is midway along the length of the corresponding connection structure (3, 4); the at least one complementary structure (13, 14) lengthwise has two distal opposite to each other ends the first of which is at the respective attachment point (3a, 4a) and the second one (20, 21) is movable, with respect to the support structure, along a direction that is opposite to the second direction (T2).
  3. A push button according to claim 2, wherein the second end of the at least one complementary structure (13, 14) is connected, preferably hingedely, to the intermediate structure (15) and is movable together with the latter towards oppositely to the second direction (T2).
  4. A push button according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the intermediate structure (15) is shaped to slidably engage the support structure (2) so that the latter is movable along the second direction and with respect to the intermediate structure, preferably the intermediate structure (15) having two distal and opposite to each other folded lateral sections (15a, 15b) each of which defines a respective channel which slidably lodges a corresponding one of two lateral and opposite to each other sections (22, 2d) of the support structure (2).
  5. A push button according to claim 1 or any of claims 3-4, wherein the intermediate structure (15) or at least a central portion of the intermediate structure (15) is shaped as a plate, preferably a rectangular plate which has a face which is normal to the first direction (T1).
  6. A push button according to claim 1 or any of claims 3-5, wherein the intermediate structure (15) or a central portion thereof is parallel to the base and/or to the support structure.
  7. A push button according to claim 1 or any of claims 3-6, wherein the support structure (2) has longitudinal protrusions (2e) which extend along the second direction (T2), said protrusions preferably facing or protruding towards the base (1).
  8. A push button according to claim 1 or any of claims 3-7, wherein the support structure (2) is a platform structure.
  9. A push button according to claim 1 or any of claims 3-8, wherein the pressable structure (10) comprises a protrusion (12) which extends away from the pressable structure (10) and towards the support structure (2), the protrusion (12) passing through an opening (11) of the support structure (2), the protrusion (12) and the support structure's opening (11) being sized and shaped to allow the protrusion (12) slidably moving along the support structure's opening (11) and oppositely to the second direction (T2), most preferably each of the protrusion (12) and the support structure's opening (11) being T-shaped.
  10. A push button according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion (12) is a termination of the pressable structure (10) and the support structure's opening (11) is a slot.
  11. A push button according to any of the previous claims, further comprising elastic means (29) configured to reverse the movement of the support structure (2) in the first (T1) and second directions (T2) and the movement of the pressable structure (10) in the second direction (T2).
  12. A push button according to claim 11, further comprising a support plate (33) which is perpendicular to the base (1), wherein the elastic means are configured to press against the support plate (33).
  13. A push button according to any of the previous claims, wherein the base (1) or a corresponding central portion of the base (1) is shaped as a plate, preferably a rectangular plate which has a face which is normal to the first direction (T1).
  14. Use a of push button according to any of the previous claims, in any a switch, a toilet cistern flushing system, a lock or a door.
  15. A system comprising a push button which is according to any claims 1-13, the system being any of a switch, a toilet cistern flushing system, a lock or a door.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure concerns a push button, the latter's use, and a system comprising said push button. The system may be any of a switch, a toilet cistern flushing system, a lock or a door. Background Push buttons are used in switches, toilet cistern flushing, locks, etc. Push buttons are usually round and move in one axis which is normal to the moving surface. Usually in order for such a push button to work smoothly, its surface is relatively small so as not to create excessive torque when it is not pressed along its axis of movement. In some cases, expensive high-precision bearings are required so that the push button does not stick while moving. Hence, there is a need for a press button which can be made to be large and at the same time, for working properly and reliably, does not need expensive high-precision bearings or other excessively complex and expensive elements. JP 2004 134260 A discloses a push button according to the preamble of claim 1. Summary of the Invention The solution provided by the present invention ensures that the surface on which the force is applied may move, i.e. displaced, staying parallel to the plane on which it is when starting moving, and may remain normal to the direction of displacement regardless of the size of the button and regardless of where the force is applied on the surface. The present invention in its first aspect concerns a push button comprising: a shell structure; a base; a support structure that is movable with respect to the base, the support structure being simultaneously movable along a first direction that is normal to a surface of the support structure and along a second direction that is parallel to said surface; a set of connection structures hingedly (hingedely) connected to the base at respective first connection points and to the support structure at respective second connection points, the second connection points being movable in parallel to each other and in parallel to the support structure and the latter's surface; a pressable structure that is movable along the first direction and is slidably attached to the support structure, the support structure being between the pressable structure and the base; wherein, the shell structure is arranged to restrict the pressable structure from moving along the second direction. Preferably the first direction may be towards the base, and most preferably normal (perpendicular) to the base. In the present specification references regarding motion "along" a direction, may preferably be understood as meaning motion "towards or oppositely to" said direction, or as meaning motion towards any direction of a respective axis (i.e. an axis that corresponds to the direction of movement). From the above it can be understood that the support structure is arranged to slide, along the second direction, with respect to the pressable structure when the latter moves along the first direction. Hence, when using the push button, the force or pressure being applied by a user on the pressable structure for displacing the latter along the first direction, can cause the slide of the support structure along the second direction with respect to the pressable structure, and can also cause the movement of the support structure along the first direction. Hence, under said force or pressure applied by the user, the support structure can move towards the base while at the same time slide with respect to the pressable structure. It can also be understood that the pressable structure may have a well-defined surface on which the user presses, and said surface may be further decorated, e.g. with indicia, instructions and/or coloration readable by the user. Likewise, for the purpose of advantageously further facilitating a smooth and easy relative movement of the support structure with respect to the pressable structure, preferably at an interface between the pressable and the support structures the latter two are smooth and/or the push button further comprises bearings by means of which the pressable structure is slidably attached to the support structure. Advantageously the elements of the push button may ensure that the movement of a switch or a surface of the push button may be parallel to itself and its axis may not be displaced. In particular, the restrictive effect that the shell may have on a movement of the pressable structure, may ensure that the said movement may substantially be only along the second direction and not along the first direction. The connection points, being movable towards the first and the second directions which are effectively normal to each other, may move along a circular arc, when preferably said motions on the first and second direction combinedly amount to a motion along said circular arc. The simultaneous motion along the first and second directions is enabled by the connection structures which are hinged to the support structure. Hence, the support structure may also follow the motion o