Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~AC~C~oUND OF T~E INYENTION
The present invention relates to a housing for a
switch, and more particularly relates to a housing for a switch
for pedestrian crossing lights which are mounted at a
pedestrian crosswalk along a roadway.
Particularly in large urban centers, at locations
along roadways other than intersections, there may be specially
marked pedestrian crosswalks. At these crosswalks, there may
be lights, actuable by a pedestrian intendlng to cross the
roadway at such location, and visible by drivers of vehicles in
the vicinity of the pedestrian crosswalk, requiring such
drivers to stop their vehicles while the lights are actuated
and thereby permit safe passage of the pedestrian across the
roadway by way of such crosswalk. Conventionally, such lights
are positioned over the roadway above the crosswalk, and the
switches for operating such lights are mounted on poles, which
may be conventional light standards, on either side of the
roadway in the vicinity of the commencement of the crosswalk.
In this way the switches are convenient to a pedestrian wishing
to traverse the roadway on such crosswalk. Usually such
switches are associated with a timing means so that the
crosswalk lights are activated only for a period of time
sufficient to enable a pedestrian to cross the crosswalk.
Switches are also used at pedestrian crosswalks at
signalized intersections to change the sequence of the signal
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displays when a pedestrian wishes to cross, as well as
sometimes to activate audible indications for sight impaired
pedestrians.
There are several different types of conventional
switches used to activate such pedestrian crosswalk lights.
Many of such switches have housings made of metal, with many
metal component parts which often times seize and make them
difficult to disassemble for servicing. As well, metal
housings have been known to transmit shocks to users when the
circuitry or switches within have broken down. Because the
switches are intended to operate in an outdoor environment,
they are subject to rigorous use and, occasionally, to
vandalism. The switches themselves are usually actuated by
depressing a button switch, and it is highly desirable that
such button switch be easy to operate even for persons wearing
gloves or having limited finger mobility.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a housing for a pedestrian crossing light switch which
i will be easy to install and operate, as well as to remove for
purposes of servicing. It is a further object of the present
invention to provide such a housing for a switch which will
minimize the opportunity for vandalism. It is yet a further
object of the present invention to provide such a housing which
will permit the switch to operate even under rigorous climatic
conditions, with relative safety for a pedestrian user.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVE~TION
In accordance with the invention there is provided a
housing for a switch, such as a pedestrian crossing light
switch, which is normally pole-mounted in an exterior
environment and intended for public use. The housing has a
body made of sturdy plastic of integral construction. The body
comprises side walls with an end wall at one end thereof,
forming a chamber open at the other end thereof. The end wall
mountably receives the switch internally within the chamber as
well as an indicator lamp, which is illuminated when the
pedestrian crossing light is actuated, where such indicator
lamp is included. Flange means outwardly extend from the open
end, and the flange means are curved to mateably receive a
portion of a pole on which the housing is mounted.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention
the side walls are of cylindrical shape. The flange means
comprise flanges, portions of which extend upwardly and
downwardly from the open end of the cylindrical sides in a
direction normal to their axis. A pair of spaced, strap
receiving ridges are provided on the upper and lower flange
portions, and extend transversely from side-to-side across the
flange portions. Each pair of the strap receiving ridges
receive therebetween a metal band to be wrapped about that
flange portion and a pole for securing the housing at a desired
position on a pole. Gasket means are secured about the
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periphery of the flanges on their pole-receiving surfaces to
seal the chamber, when the housing is mounted on a pole,
against external weather conditions.
The housing in accordance with the present invention
is extremely easy to install, requiring only the application of
bands to circumscribe the flanges and the pole to which the
housing is to be mounted. Because it is made of plastic, the
chance a pedestrian user may receive an electrical shock when
activating the switch is virtually eliminated. The integral
construction and unique shape of the housing make it possible
to attach the component parts such as the switch internally,
and secure the parts internally against vandalism. A
pedestrian light switch mounted within a housing in accordance
with the present invention is reliable and easy to operate in
all types of weather.
BRIEF _~SCRIPTION OF T~F DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
detailed description and upon referring to the dra-~ings in
which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from the front of a
housing in accordance with the present invention, mounted on a
service pole;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the
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housing of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the device of FIGURE
l; and
FIGURE 4 is a section view along line 4-4 of FIGURE
3.
While the invention will be described in conjunction
with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is
not intended to limit the invention to such embodiment. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifi.cations and equivalents as may be included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
In the drawings, similar features have been given
similar reference numerals.
~ urning to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a
pedestrian crossing light switch housing 2 in accordance with
the present invention, mounted by means of circumscribing bands
4 on a service pole 6.
As can be seen in the drawings, the housing comprises
a portion having side walls 10, of cylindrical form, with an
end wall shown generally as 12, at one end thereof with the
side walls 10 being open at the other end (FIGURE 4). At the
base of cylindrical walls 10 are flanges 14 curved about an
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axis normal to the axis of the cylindrical sides 10 as
illustrated so as to conform to the surface of pole 6 on which
housing 2 is mounted. Upper and lower flange portions 16 and
18 are each provided respectively with pairs of spaced
band-retaining ridges 20, within which metal bands 4 are seated
when wrapped about housing 2 and pole 4 to hold the housing in
position. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, appropriate
weatherproofing gasket material 22 is provided about the
periphery of the interior surface of flanges 14 so that, when
housing 2 is mounted on pole 4, the interior thereof, and in
particular interior chamber 24 within cylindrical ~alls 10, is
sealed from external environmental weather conditions.
As can be seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, end wall 12 of
housing 2 takes a form of a series of stepped surfaces starting
from a lower, circular, centrally positioned base surface 26,
and progressing outwardly to a spaced annular support surface
28 and an exterior annular circumscribing surface 30. The
function of each of these surfaces will be described in more
detail hereinafter.
The housing of the general shape as described
previously herein is preferably made from an appropriate molded
plastic such as ABS plastic, which is both durable and rugged
(to resist the effects of weather and vandalism). It is
preferably made in a readily visible colour, such as yellow.
A housing 2 of this shape permits easy assemblage of
the components of the pedestrian crossing light switch, which
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components include micro switch 32, neon lamp 34, actuator
button 36, nylon reinforced rubber diaphragm 38 and actuator
cover 40. Micro switch 32, having wires 41 leading to
pedestrian crossing light circuitry (not illustrated) is
mounted internally, within chamber 24 (FIGURE 4) to end base
26, and secured thereto by appropriate securing means such as
bolt 44 extending through aperture 42 in end base 26, and nut
44 which threadably engages bolt 40 on the exterior side of end
base 26 to secure micro switch 32 in position. Micro switch 32
preferably is a single-pole momentary action micro switch such
as, for example, a Burgess QVCFT9 (trade mark) micro switch.
Double~pole switches can be used where, it is desired to
control more functions than just switching lights. Micro
switch 32 is actuated by means of actuator button 36 having
post 46 seated in an appropriate socket in bolt 44 therein,
actuator button 36 being positioned on the exterior side of end
base 26 wîthin the well formed by circumscribing side step
surfaces 48 (FI~URE 4). A coil spring 47 is preferably
positioned between end base 26 and the back of actuator button
36, so as to urge actuator button 36 outwardly, back to its
normal, inoperative position, after it has been depressed to
actuate micro switch 32. This additional bias provided by
spring 47 is important to ensure proper return of actuator
button 36, for example in extremely cold weather when the
resiliency of rubber 38 or the smooth mechanical operation of
actuator button 36 with respect to micro switch 32 may be
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restricted. Neon lamp 34, which is seatably and visibly
secured on support surface 28, is wired into the circuitry of
the pedestrian crossing lights and micro switch 32 such that it
is visibly acuated before the pedestrian crossing lights are
on, to give a visual indication to a pedestrian that a demand
has been registered by the light switching electronics to
switch the pedestrian crossing lights on. Actuator button 36
preferably has an enlarged surface as illustrated, to
facilitate actuation thereof by, for example, the young, the
elderly, or persons wearing gloves.
To minimize the effects of inclement weather on the
workings of micro switch 32 and actuator button 36, nylon
reinforced rubber diaphragm 38 is positioned over actuator
button 36, and secured in position thereby by means of actuator
cover 40, actuator cover 40 and diaphragm 38 being secured in
position on annular support surface 28 by means of internally
fastened screws 50. Because of the outward and sideways
stepped construction of the surfaces of end wall 12, it can be
seen (EIGURE 4) that the mounting of micro switch 32 and the
securing of actuator cover 40 and diaphragm 38 in position by
means of screws 50 may be readily achieved from within chamber
24. As a further feature to reduce the opportunity for
vandalism (e.g. by the jamming of a knife or other object
between side wall 46 and actuator button 36), the inner
diameter of annular actuator cover 40 is preferably such that
the space between side wall 48 and actuator button 36 is
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covered by actuator cover 40.
The housing and push button switch for a pedestrian
crosswalk, as described above, provides an easy to install and
repair, as well as easy to operate system for activating
pedestrian crosswalk lights. Because the working and
electrical parts are completely encased within housing 2, the
effects of inclement conditions, such as freezing rain on the
system are minimized. As well, because of the internal
mounting of the components of the system within chamber 24, and
the durable construction of the housing, the system is
extremely difficult to vandalize. The large, concentrically
placed actuator button 36 is also very easy to locate and
operate for pedestrians.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the invention a housing for pedestrian crossing
signal switches that fully satisfies the objects, aims and
advantages set forth above. While the invention has been
described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it
is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations
will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the
foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace
all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall
within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.
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