Title of Invention	A CONTROL PANEL WITH AT LEAST ONE SWITCH
Abstract	A control panel is shown with at least one switch (12) whose actuating button (6) is situated in an opening (3) of a front panel (4), and with a housing (1) arranged in the region of the opening (3) of the front panel (4) and enclosing the switch (12), which housing forms between an inner and an outer circumferential wall (2, 5) an annular gap (8) for receiving at least one lighting means (11), which annular gap is open towards the front panel (3) and is covered in a light-transmitting manner. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that that the housing (1) is inserted with its outer circumferential wall (2) in a flush manner into the opening (3) of the front panel (4) and encloses the actuating button (6) with its inner circumferential wall (5), and that the light-transmitting cover of the annular gap (8) between inner and outer circumferential wall (2, 5) consists of a foil (9) extending over the front panel (4).

Title of Invention

A CONTROL PANEL WITH AT LEAST ONE SWITCH

Abstract

A control panel is shown with at least one switch (12) whose actuating button (6) is situated in an opening (3) of a front panel (4), and with a housing (1) arranged in the region of the opening (3) of the front panel (4) and enclosing the switch (12), which housing forms between an inner and an outer circumferential wall (2, 5) an annular gap (8) for receiving at least one lighting means (11), which annular gap is open towards the front panel (3) and is covered in a light-transmitting manner. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that that the housing (1) is inserted with its outer circumferential wall (2) in a flush manner into the opening (3) of the front panel (4) and encloses the actuating button (6) with its inner circumferential wall (5), and that the light-transmitting cover of the annular gap (8) between inner and outer circumferential wall (2, 5) consists of a foil (9) extending over the front panel (4).

Full Text	1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a control panel with at least one switch whose actuating button is situated in an opening of a front panel, and with a housing arranged in the region of the opening of the front panel and enclosing the switch, which hous- ing forms between an inner and an outer circumferential wall an annular gap for receiving at least one lighting means, which annular gap is open towards the front panel and is covered in a light-transmitting manner. 2. Description of the Prior Art In order to provide circumferential illumination in a switch of a control panel it is known from the state of the art (DE 3 228 290 A1) to form the actuating button of the switch both in a partly light-transmitting manner and to illuminate the same from the back with lighting means. When the actuating button is also situated in an opening of an opaque front panel, a circumferential illumination is obtained which is delimited from the front panel and from the opaque part of the actuating button The disadvantageous aspect in such switches is that with a clearance of the actuating button in the actuating direction it is necessary to arrange the light- ing means at a distance from the actuating button, which thus reduces the bright- ness of the illumination. Although this loss of brightness can be compensated by powerful lighting means, this is not appropriate for inexpensive switches. An addi- tional factor is that the major part of the light output of the lighting means is held back by the opaque cover of the lighting button, so that without a use of light guides this output will be lost for the circumferential illumination. The use of light guides is comparatively expensive and complex from a constructional viewpoint. Moreover, such switches are susceptible to soiling of the lighting means as a re- sult of their clearance between the actuating button and the housing, so that one must expect a continual decrease in the luminosity of the circumferential illumina- tion. An additional factor is that as a result of the clearance it is also not possible to avoid that other switches are illuminated. Summary of the Invention The invention is thus based on the object of improving a control panel with at least one switch of the kind mentioned above in such a way that despite the use of low- power lighting means a sufficiently bright circumferential illumination of the actuat- ing button can be achieved without having to make a high constructional effort. Moreover, the circumferential illumination is to be comparatively inexpensive and allow for high service lives. This object is achieved by the invention in such a way that the housing is inserted with its outer circumferential wall in a flush manner into the opening of the front panel and encloses the actuating button with its inner circumferential wall, and that the light-transmitting cover of the annular gap between inner and outer circumferential wall consists of a foil extending over the front panel. Once the housing with the outer circumferential wall has been inserted flush into the opening of the front panel and once its inner circumferential wall encloses the actuating button, a complex constructional configuration of the actuating button can be omitted for a circumferential illumination because the annular gap lies with its lighting means separate from the switch in the opening of the front panel. No opaque cover of the actuating button is thus required as a result of the missing il- lumination on the back side. Moreover, sufficient brightness of the circumferential illumination can still be ensured with low-power lighting means because, on the one hand, there will not be any losses of brightness by any distances to be ob- served in contrast to the state of the art and, on the other hand, the entire lumi- nosity of the lighting means can be used for the circumferential illumination. An inherently sealed receiving area is available to the iighting means with a light- transmitting cover of the annular gap by a foil extending over the front panel, as a result of which soiling can be avoided. The circumferential illumination in accor- dance with the invention is therefore characterized by a long service life and low costs in production and operation. A further factor is that the use of light guides can be omitted, which especially reduces the entire constructional complexity of the control panel When the actuating button projects with a curved actuating surface beyond the surface of the front panel then it is comparatively easy for the user to see the pressure point of the actuating button, which thus further reduces the risk of damaging the foil of the annular gap. When the actuating surface is further covered by a light-transparent protective foil extending over the housing at least in the region of the annular gap between the inner and outer circumferential wall, it is not only possible to avoid soiling of the switch but also increasing the strength of the cover of the annular gap. When the lighting means and the switch are provided on a printed circuit board and the same project through recesses in the floor into the housing, maintenance work can be conducted easily and rapidly by simply detaching the circuit board from the housing Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings The subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example in the drawings, wherein FIG 1 snows a top view of a part of the control panel without foil cover, FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along 11-11 of FiG 1 with the foil cover, and FIG. 3 shows the housing of the switch in accordance with the invention in a three-dimensional view. Description of The Preferred Embodiments In the illustrated embodiment of the control panel in accordance with the invention (FIG 1). the front panel 4 which is made of an aluminium material for example. forms an opening 3 into which a housing 1 is inserted which housing is made of a plastic material for example. With its outer circumferential wall 2 the housing 1 is flush with said opening 3 and comprises between its outer circumferential wall 2 and its inner circumferential wall 5 an annular gap 8 which is open towards the front panel 4. Several lighting means 11 are inserted in said annular gap 8, which lighting means are provided for a circumferential illumination of an actuating but- ton 6 of a switch 12 enclosed by the inner circumferential wall 5 (Fig. 2). The switching on and off of the circumferential illumination can occur for example by a control device (not shown in closer detail) which supplies electric power to the lighting means 11, e.g. LED modules, when switch 12 is activated. Switch 12 is therefore separated from the annular gap 8 by an opaque housing wall 5, as a re- sult of which no rear illumination of the actuating button 6 is expected. A circum- ferential illumination with a comparatively sharp contour can be ensured since the entire luminosity of the lighting means 11 is available without any scattering losses of the circumferential illumination. In order to ensure an advantageous emission behaviour of the lighting means 11 it is also possible that the sides of the housing 1 which enclose the illumination means 11 are metallized. In order to avoid soiling, the annular gap 8 is covered with a light-transmitting cover made of a foil 9 ex- tending over the front panel 4. It has been noticed that it is advantageous to allow the foil 9 to project with its edge not only over the annular gap 8 but also up to the actuating button 6 and to optionally glue the same to the actuating button 6 in said overlapping region. Switch 12 can thus also be protected from soiling. Moreover, the narrow housing web between the annular gap 8 and the inner circumferential wall 5 can be covered. The actuating button 6 projects with its arched actuating surface over the surface of the front panel, which also visually indicates the position of the actuating switch 6 for the user of the control panel, so that markings on the foil 9 for indicating the actuating switch 6 can be omitted. Moreover, the actuating switch 6 is covered with protective foil 10 which extends over the housing 1 and is light-transparent at least in the region of the annular gap 8 between inner and outer circumferential wail 2, as a result of which the colour of the circumferential illumination can be de- termined in a simple manner after the production of the control panel on the one hand and the switch 12 is protected against soiling and wear and tear on the other hand. Said additional foil cover 10 can be glued together in the overlapping region for example with the foil 9 pulled over the front panel. It is also possible that only one foil is pulled over the front panel which consists of the foil 9 and the additional foil cover 10. The lighting means 11 and the switch 12 are provided on a printed circuit board 13 with electric connections, which circuit board 13 also comprises openings for fastening pins 14 of the housing. The printed circuit board 13 is fixedly connected to the housing 1 via said fastening pins 14, which is not shown in closer detail. In the course of maintenance work it is merely necessary to separate the printed cir- cuit board 13 from the housing 1, as a result of which the lighting means 11 and the switch 12 are easily accessible. The housing 1 is pressed by circuit board 13 against the front panel 4 of the control panel, so that any slippage of the housing 1 can be excluded on actuating the switch 12. Recesses 15 in the floor of housing 1 are each provided (Fig. 3) for the lighting means 11 and the switch 12, into which the aforementioned project. It is understood that the actuating button 6 and the illumination lighting are not lim- ited to a circular shape, but that instead the circumferential illumination in accor- dance with the invention can be provided in any shape of the actuating button 6. It is merely necessary to adjust the annular gap 8 accordingly for this purpose. We Claim :- 1. Switch panel having at least one switch, of which the operating button lies in an opening of a front panel (4). and having a housing (1) arranged in the region of the opening of the front panel (4) surrounding the switch, said housing forming between an inner (5) and an outer peripheral wall (2) an annular gap (8) open towards the front panel (4). covered transparently, for receiving at least one illumination means (11), characterised in that the housing (1) is inserted in a flush manner with the outer peripheral wall (2) into the opening (3) of the front panel (4) and with its inner peripheral wall (5) surrounds the operating button (6) and in that the transparent covering of the annular gap (8) between the inner and outer peripheral wall (2, 5) consists of a film (9) extending over the front panel (4). 2 Switch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating button (6) projects with an arched operating surface over the front panel surface and is covered by a protective film (10) extending over the housing (1) which is transparent at least in the region of the annular gap (8) between the inner and outer peripheral wall (2, 5). 3 Switch panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the illumination means (11) and the switch (12) are provided on a circuit board (13) and project through bottom recesses (15) into the housing (1)

Full Text

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control panel with at least one switch whose actuating
button is situated in an opening of a front panel, and with a housing arranged in
the region of the opening of the front panel and enclosing the switch, which hous-
ing forms between an inner and an outer circumferential wall an annular gap for
receiving at least one lighting means, which annular gap is open towards the front
panel and is covered in a light-transmitting manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to provide circumferential illumination in a switch of a control panel it is
known from the state of the art (DE 3 228 290 A1) to form the actuating button of
the switch both in a partly light-transmitting manner and to illuminate the same
from the back with lighting means. When the actuating button is also situated in
an opening of an opaque front panel, a circumferential illumination is obtained
which is delimited from the front panel and from the opaque part of the actuating
button The disadvantageous aspect in such switches is that with a clearance of
the actuating button in the actuating direction it is necessary to arrange the light-
ing means at a distance from the actuating button, which thus reduces the bright-
ness of the illumination. Although this loss of brightness can be compensated by
powerful lighting means, this is not appropriate for inexpensive switches. An addi-
tional factor is that the major part of the light output of the lighting means is held
back by the opaque cover of the lighting button, so that without a use of light
guides this output will be lost for the circumferential illumination. The use of light
guides is comparatively expensive and complex from a constructional viewpoint.
Moreover, such switches are susceptible to soiling of the lighting means as a re-
sult of their clearance between the actuating button and the housing, so that one

must expect a continual decrease in the luminosity of the circumferential illumina-
tion. An additional factor is that as a result of the clearance it is also not possible
to avoid that other switches are illuminated.
Summary of the Invention
The invention is thus based on the object of improving a control panel with at least
one switch of the kind mentioned above in such a way that despite the use of low-
power lighting means a sufficiently bright circumferential illumination of the actuat-
ing button can be achieved without having to make a high constructional effort.
Moreover, the circumferential illumination is to be comparatively inexpensive and
allow for high service lives.
This object is achieved by the invention in such a way that the housing is inserted
with its outer circumferential wall in a flush manner into the opening of the front
panel and encloses the actuating button with its inner circumferential wall, and
that the light-transmitting cover of the annular gap between inner and outer
circumferential wall consists of a foil extending over the front panel.
Once the housing with the outer circumferential wall has been inserted flush into
the opening of the front panel and once its inner circumferential wall encloses the
actuating button, a complex constructional configuration of the actuating button
can be omitted for a circumferential illumination because the annular gap lies with
its lighting means separate from the switch in the opening of the front panel. No
opaque cover of the actuating button is thus required as a result of the missing il-
lumination on the back side. Moreover, sufficient brightness of the circumferential
illumination can still be ensured with low-power lighting means because, on the
one hand, there will not be any losses of brightness by any distances to be ob-
served in contrast to the state of the art and, on the other hand, the entire lumi-
nosity of the lighting means can be used for the circumferential illumination. An
inherently sealed receiving area is available to the iighting means with a light-
transmitting cover of the annular gap by a foil extending over the front panel, as a
result of which soiling can be avoided. The circumferential illumination in accor-
dance with the invention is therefore characterized by a long service life and low
costs in production and operation. A further factor is that the use of light guides can
be omitted, which especially reduces the entire constructional complexity of the
control panel
When the actuating button projects with a curved actuating surface beyond the
surface of the front panel then it is comparatively easy for the user to see the
pressure point of the actuating button, which thus further reduces the risk of
damaging the foil of the annular gap. When the actuating surface is further covered
by a light-transparent protective foil extending over the housing at least in the region
of the annular gap between the inner and outer circumferential wall, it is not only
possible to avoid soiling of the switch but also increasing the strength of the cover of
the annular gap.
When the lighting means and the switch are provided on a printed circuit board and
the same project through recesses in the floor into the housing, maintenance work
can be conducted easily and rapidly by simply detaching the circuit board from the
housing
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
The subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example in the drawings,
wherein
FIG 1 snows a top view of a part of the control panel without foil cover,
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along 11-11 of FiG 1 with the foil cover, and
FIG. 3 shows the housing of the switch in accordance with the invention in a
three-dimensional view.
Description of The Preferred Embodiments
In the illustrated embodiment of the control panel in accordance with the invention
(FIG 1). the front panel 4 which is made of an aluminium material for example.
forms an opening 3 into which a housing 1 is inserted which housing is made of a
plastic material for example. With its outer circumferential wall 2 the housing 1 is
flush with said opening 3 and comprises between its outer circumferential wall 2
and its inner circumferential wall 5 an annular gap 8 which is open towards the
front panel 4. Several lighting means 11 are inserted in said annular gap 8, which
lighting means are provided for a circumferential illumination of an actuating but-
ton 6 of a switch 12 enclosed by the inner circumferential wall 5 (Fig. 2). The
switching on and off of the circumferential illumination can occur for example by a
control device (not shown in closer detail) which supplies electric power to the
lighting means 11, e.g. LED modules, when switch 12 is activated. Switch 12 is
therefore separated from the annular gap 8 by an opaque housing wall 5, as a re-
sult of which no rear illumination of the actuating button 6 is expected. A circum-
ferential illumination with a comparatively sharp contour can be ensured since the
entire luminosity of the lighting means 11 is available without any scattering losses
of the circumferential illumination. In order to ensure an advantageous emission
behaviour of the lighting means 11 it is also possible that the sides of the housing
1 which enclose the illumination means 11 are metallized. In order to avoid soiling,
the annular gap 8 is covered with a light-transmitting cover made of a foil 9 ex-
tending over the front panel 4. It has been noticed that it is advantageous to allow
the foil 9 to project with its edge not only over the annular gap 8 but also up to the
actuating button 6 and to optionally glue the same to the actuating button 6 in said
overlapping region. Switch 12 can thus also be protected from soiling. Moreover,
the narrow housing web between the annular gap 8 and the inner circumferential
wall 5 can be covered.
The actuating button 6 projects with its arched actuating surface over the surface
of the front panel, which also visually indicates the position of the actuating switch
6 for the user of the control panel, so that markings on the foil 9 for indicating the
actuating switch 6 can be omitted. Moreover, the actuating switch 6 is covered
with protective foil 10 which extends over the housing 1 and is light-transparent at
least in the region of the annular gap 8 between inner and outer circumferential
wail 2, as a result of which the colour of the circumferential illumination can be de-
termined in a simple manner after the production of the control panel on the one
hand and the switch 12 is protected against soiling and wear and tear on the other
hand. Said additional foil cover 10 can be glued together in the overlapping region
for example with the foil 9 pulled over the front panel. It is also possible that only
one foil is pulled over the front panel which consists of the foil 9 and the additional
foil cover 10.
The lighting means 11 and the switch 12 are provided on a printed circuit board
13 with electric connections, which circuit board 13 also comprises openings for
fastening pins 14 of the housing. The printed circuit board 13 is fixedly connected
to the housing 1 via said fastening pins 14, which is not shown in closer detail. In
the course of maintenance work it is merely necessary to separate the printed cir-
cuit board 13 from the housing 1, as a result of which the lighting means 11 and
the switch 12 are easily accessible. The housing 1 is pressed by circuit board 13
against the front panel 4 of the control panel, so that any slippage of the housing 1
can be excluded on actuating the switch 12. Recesses 15 in the floor of housing 1
are each provided (Fig. 3) for the lighting means 11 and the switch 12, into which
the aforementioned project.
It is understood that the actuating button 6 and the illumination lighting are not lim-
ited to a circular shape, but that instead the circumferential illumination in accor-
dance with the invention can be provided in any shape of the actuating button 6. It
is merely necessary to adjust the annular gap 8 accordingly for this purpose.
We Claim :-
1. Switch panel having at least one switch, of which the operating button lies in
an opening of a front panel (4). and having a housing (1) arranged in the region of
the opening of the front panel (4) surrounding the switch, said housing forming
between an inner (5) and an outer peripheral wall (2) an annular gap (8) open
towards the front panel (4). covered transparently, for receiving at least one
illumination means (11), characterised in that the housing (1) is inserted in a flush
manner with the outer peripheral wall (2) into the opening (3) of the front panel (4)
and with its inner peripheral wall (5) surrounds the operating button (6) and in that
the transparent covering of the annular gap (8) between the inner and outer
peripheral wall (2, 5) consists of a film (9) extending over the front panel (4).
2 Switch panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating button (6) projects
with an arched operating surface over the front panel surface and is covered by a
protective film (10) extending over the housing (1) which is transparent at least in the
region of the annular gap (8) between the inner and outer peripheral wall (2, 5).
3 Switch panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the illumination means (11)
and the switch (12) are provided on a circuit board (13) and project through bottom
recesses (15) into the housing (1)

Documents:

01205-kolnp-2006 abstract.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 claims.tif.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 correspondence others.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 description(complete).pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 drawings.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 form-1.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 form-2.tif.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 form-3.tif.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 form-5.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 international publication.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006 international search authority report.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006-correspondence others-1.1.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006-drawings-1.1.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006-form-1-1.1.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006-form-5-1.1.pdf

01205-kolnp-2006-priority document.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT 1.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-AMANDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE) 1.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-DRAWINGS 1.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18 1.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 2.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 26.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS DOCUMENTS 1.1.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

1205-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-01205-kolnp-2006.jpg

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Patent Number

250517

Indian Patent Application Number

1205/KOLNP/2006

PG Journal Number

02/2012

Publication Date

13-Jan-2012

Grant Date

09-Jan-2012

Date of Filing

09-May-2006

Name of Patentee

BERNECKER & RAINER INDUSTRIE-ELEKTRONIK GESELLSCHAFT M. B. H.

Applicant Address

A 5142 EGGELSBERG 120

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	RAINER, JOSEF	HOLZOSTER 20, A-5133 FRANKING
2	BERNECKER, ERWIN	MITTERNDORF 70, A-5122 HOCHBURG

PCT International Classification Number

H01H 13/14

PCT International Application Number

PCT/AT2004/000403

PCT International Filing date

2004-11-17

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	A 1862/2003	2003-11-20	Austria