Force switch
First Claim
1. A method of creating a switch to be disposed along a longitudinal axis of a device, comprising:
- providing a hollow body defining an interior cavity;
disposing a switching element movably within the interior cavity to define;
a switch-making position along a switching axis of the switching element; and
a switch-breaking position along the switching axis of the switching element;
disposing a biasing element about the switching element to impart a biasing force to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element exceeds the biasing force to thereby cause the switching element to change to the other of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position;
disposing a biasing force-adjusting element in cooperative engagement with the biasing element such that a magnitude of the biasing force is adjustable using the biasing force-adjusting element; and
coupling an electrically-conductive contact to the switching element to define;
a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position; and
a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of creating a switch, comprising disposing a switching element movably within an interior cavity of the switch to define switch-making and switch-breaking positions along a switching axis of the switching element, disposing a biasing element about the switching element to impart a biasing force to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making and switch-breaking positions until an external force imparted to the switching element exceeds the biasing force to cause the switching element to change to the other position, disposing a biasing force-adjusting element in cooperative engagement with the biasing element such that a magnitude of the biasing force is adjustable, and coupling a conductive contact to the switching element to define a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of creating a switch to be disposed along a longitudinal axis of a device, comprising:
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providing a hollow body defining an interior cavity; disposing a switching element movably within the interior cavity to define; a switch-making position along a switching axis of the switching element; and a switch-breaking position along the switching axis of the switching element; disposing a biasing element about the switching element to impart a biasing force to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element exceeds the biasing force to thereby cause the switching element to change to the other of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position; disposing a biasing force-adjusting element in cooperative engagement with the biasing element such that a magnitude of the biasing force is adjustable using the biasing force-adjusting element; and coupling an electrically-conductive contact to the switching element to define; a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position; and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a switching of a device, comprising:
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using a biasing element that is disposed about a switching element of the switch, imparting a biasing force to the switching element to place the switching element in one of a switch-making position and a switch-breaking position, wherein; the switching element is movably disposed within an interior cavity of a hollow body of the switch to define; the switch-making position along a switching axis of the switching element; and the switch-breaking position along the switching axis of the switching element; an electrically-conductive contact is coupled to the switching element to define; a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position; and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position; and a magnitude of the biasing force is adjustable using a biasing force-adjusting element that is in cooperative engagement with the biasing element; and imparting an external force to the switching element, wherein a magnitude of the external force exceeds the biasing force to thereby cause the switching element to change to the other one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification