초록 ▼

A latching system for securing two members together includes a housing, a pawl that is pivotally attached to the housing, a locking member, an actuating mechanism, and a rocker switch. The pawl is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The rocker switch is used to control

A latching system for securing two members together includes a housing, a pawl that is pivotally attached to the housing, a locking member, an actuating mechanism, and a rocker switch. The pawl is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The rocker switch is used to control the actuating mechanism. The rocker switch includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a printed circuit board, and a button. The pawl is provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open or disengaged configuration. Energizing the electrical actuating mechanism retracts the locking member out of engagement with the pawl, thus allowing the pawl to rotate under spring bias to the open configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rocker switch suitable for serving as a user interface to allow a user to actuate at least one electrically powered device, the rocker switch comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting to a console;an inner housing received at least in part in said outer housing, said inner housing havin

1. A rocker switch suitable for serving as a user interface to allow a user to actuate at least one electrically powered device, the rocker switch comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting to a console;an inner housing received at least in part in said outer housing, said inner housing having a pair of inner projecting fins;a printed circuit board supported by said inner housing;a button pivotally supported by said inner housing, said button being pivotally movable about a pivot axis that extends through approximately the centerline of said button when viewed in plan view such that said button is pivotally movable in seesaw fashion by pressing said button on either side of said centerline of said button, said button having a back plate, said back plate having a pair of ribs provided on a backside of said back plate below said pivot axis, each of said ribs being received in a respective groove formed in a respective one of said pair of inner projecting fins when said button is in said neutral position;a first micro switch supported by said printed circuit board at a location such that, when said button is moved to a first position corresponding to said button being pivotally moved by being pressed on a first side of said centerline of said button, then said first micro switch is actuated by said button;a second micro switch supported by said printed circuit board at a location such that, when said button is moved to a second position corresponding to said button being pivotally moved by being pressed on a second side of said centerline of said button, then said second micro switch is actuated by said button; anda biasing spring acting between said button and said inner housing, said spring biasing said button toward a neutral position where neither said first micro switch nor said second micro switch is actuated,wherein any movement of said button toward one of said first and second positions will cause said ribs to become misaligned relative to their respective grooves and said pair of inner projecting fins have to be forced apart by said ribs in order for pivotal movement of said button to take place, whereby said ribs provide resistance to the pivotal movement of said button and thus provide a detent mechanism that tends to maintain said button in said neutral position. 2. The rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said back plate has two lateral projections that provide for the pivotal attachment of said button to said inner housing, said inner housing has a pair of outer projecting fins that are each provided with a journal bearing that received a respective one of said lateral projections in order to pivotally attach said button to said inner housing. 3. The rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said biasing spring is in the form of a wire loop and has portions in contact with said inner housing, a first portion in contact with said button on a first side of said pivot axis, a second portion in contact with said button on a second side of said pivot axis, first sloping portions extending between said first portion that is in contact with said button on said first side of said pivot axis and said portions in contact with said inner housing, and second sloping portions extending between said second portion that is in contact with said button on said second side of said pivot axis and said portions in contact with said inner housing. 4. The rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said button is provided with indicia, and wherein the rocker switch further comprises a light emitting diode supported by said printed circuit board to allow for illumination of said button indicia. 5. The rocker switch according to claim 1, wherein said button is provided with a pair of protuberances projecting from a backside of said button on either side of said pivot axis of said button, each of said protuberances register with a respective one of said first and second micro switches, and pressing said button on either side of said pivot axis brings a respective one of said protuberances into contact with a respective one of said first and second micro switches in order to actuate said respective one of said first and second micro switches. 6. A rocker switch suitable for serving as a user interface to allow a user to actuate at least one electrically powered device, the rocker switch comprising: an outer housing adapted for mounting to a console;an inner housing received at least in part in said outer housing;a printed circuit board supported by said inner housing;a button pivotally supported by said inner housing, said button being pivotally movable about a pivot axis that extends through approximately the centerline of said button when viewed in plan view such that said button is pivotally movable in seesaw fashion by pressing said button on either side of said centerline of said button;a first micro switch supported by said printed circuit board at a location such that, when said button is moved to a first position corresponding to said button being pivotally moved by being pressed on a first side of said centerline of said button, then said first micro switch is actuated by said button;a second micro switch supported by said printed circuit board at a location such that, when said button is moved to a second position corresponding to said button being pivotally moved by being pressed on a second side of said centerline of said button, then said second micro switch is actuated by said button; anda biasing spring acting between said button and said inner housing, said spring biasing said button toward a neutral position where neither said first micro switch nor said second micro switch is actuated,wherein said biasing spring is in the form of a wire loop and has portions in contact with said inner housing, a first portion in contact with said button on a first side of said pivot axis, a second portion in contact with said button on a second side of said pivot axis, first sloping portions extending between said first portion that is in contact with said button on said first side of said pivot axis and said portions in contact with said inner housing, and second sloping portions extending between said second portion that is in contact with said button on said second side of said pivot axis and said portions in contact with said inner housing,wherein said button has a back plate that has two lateral projections that provide for the pivotal attachment of said button to said inner housing, said inner housing has a pair of outer projecting fins that are each provided with a journal bearing that received a respective one of said lateral projections in order to pivotally attach said button to said inner housing,wherein said inner housing is provided with a pair of inner projecting fins, wherein said back plate has a pair of ribs, said ribs are provided on a backside of said back plate below said pivot axis, each of said ribs is received in a respective groove formed in a respective one of said pair of inner projecting fins when said button is in said neutral position, and wherein any movement of said button toward one of said first and second positions will cause said ribs to become misaligned relative to their respective grooves and said pair of inner projecting fins have to be forced apart by said ribs in order for pivotal movement of said button to take place, whereby said ribs provide resistance to the pivotal movement of said button and thus provide a detent mechanism that tends to maintain said button in said neutral position. 7. The rocker switch according to claim 6, wherein said button is provided with indicia, and wherein the rocker switch further comprises a light emitting diode supported by said printed circuit board to allow for illumination of said button indicia. 8. The rocker switch according to claim 6, wherein said button is provided with a pair of protuberances projecting from a backside of said button on either side of said pivot axis of said button, each of said protuberances register with a respective one of said first and second micro switches, and pressing said button on either side of said pivot axis brings a respective one of said protuberances into contact with a respective one of said first and second micro switches in order to actuate said respective one of said first and second micro switches. 9. A latch assembly for releasably securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, one of said first member and said second member having a keeper in a fixed positional relationship therewith, the latch assembly comprising: a housing;a pawl pivotally attached to said housing and being movable between a closed or engaged position and an open or disengaged position, said pawl moving rotationally about an axis of rotation, said pawl being provided with a torsion spring member that biases said pawl toward said open or disengaged position;a locking member supported by said housing for rectilinear movement, said locking member being movable between extended and retracted positions, said locking member moving rectilinearly between said extended and said retracted positions in a direction perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said pawl; andan electrically powered actuating mechanism for moving said locking member from said extended position to said retracted position; anda rocker switch in accordance with claim 1 or 6 serving as a user interface to allow a user to actuate said electrically powered actuating mechanism,wherein, when said pawl impacts the keeper during closing of the first and second members together, said pawl is moved to said closed position, and wherein when said pawl is in said closed position a lug projecting from said pawl is engaged by said locking member when said locking member is in said extended position to retain said pawl in said closed position, andwherein retracting said locking member by energizing said electrically powered actuating mechanism, allows said pawl to rotate under spring bias to said open position to thereby allow the latch to be disengaged from the keeper. 10. The latch assembly according to claim 9, wherein said electrically powered actuating mechanism is a solenoid supported by said housing. 11. The latch assembly according to claim 9, wherein said electrically powered actuating mechanism is a remotely located linear actuator that is connected to said locking member by a Bowden cable. 12. The latch assembly according to claim 9, wherein said electrically powered actuating mechanism is one of a plurality of electrically powered actuating mechanisms.