SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A switch assembly for operating a device or performing a safety function for power equipment, the switch assembly comprising:
- a housing supporting a selectively locatable activation knob facilitated by an actuation assembly;
an internal switch arrangement coupled to a printed circuit board within said housing, the internal switch arrangement comprising a switch for determining the relative position of said selectively locatable activation knob and providing a digital output signal for enabling or disabling operation of a power equipment device or power equipment safety function.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch assembly and method of using same comprises a switch assembly for operating a power take off unit on a lawn tractor, the switch assembly further includes a housing supporting a selectively locatable activation knob facilitated by an actuation assembly and an internal switch arrangement coupled to a printed circuit board within the housing. The internal switch arrangement comprises a microcontroller and switch for determining the relative position of the selectively locatable activation knob and provides a digital output signal for enabling or disabling a power take off unit based on the digital output signal.
31 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A switch assembly for operating a device or performing a safety function for power equipment, the switch assembly comprising:
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a housing supporting a selectively locatable activation knob facilitated by an actuation assembly; an internal switch arrangement coupled to a printed circuit board within said housing, the internal switch arrangement comprising a switch for determining the relative position of said selectively locatable activation knob and providing a digital output signal for enabling or disabling operation of a power equipment device or power equipment safety function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A switch assembly for operating a device or performing a safety function on a lawn tractor, the switch assembly comprising:
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a housing supporting a selectively locatable activation knob facilitated by an actuation assembly, the actuation assembly including; a support; a vane coupled to the support; at least one spring configured to bias the support to position the vane; and at least one non-contact sensor; an internal switch arrangement coupled to a printed circuit board within said housing, the internal switch arrangement including; a microcontroller; a switch in communication with the microcontroller, the switch configured to determine the relative position of said selectively locatable activation knob and providing a digital output signal for enabling or disabling operation of a lawn tractor device or lawn tractor safety function; and a control module for receiving said digital output signal, the control module configured to decode said digital output signal to activate or deactivate the lawn tractor device or safety function, wherein the internal switch arrangement is configured to communicate with the at least one sensor of the actuation assembly, the internal switch mechanism being configured to determine the presence of the vane relative to the at least one sensor, and further wherein the actuation assembly is configured to position the knob such that the switch arrangement detects the position of the knob and forms the corresponding digital output.
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- 11. The switch assembly of claim 11 wherein said internal switch assembly is a low current switch using digital signals ranging from 10 mA to 60 mA.
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15. A method for operating a device or performing a safety function on a lawn tractor, comprising the steps of:
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providing a switch assembly that includes; a housing supporting a selectively locatable activation knob facilitated by an actuation assembly; an internal switch arrangement coupled to a printed circuit board within said housing, the internal switch arrangement comprising a switch; and a control module configured to cooperate with the internal switch mechanism; positioning said selectively locatable activation knob into or out of the housing; determining the relative position of said selectively locatable activation knob using the internal switch mechanism; providing a digital output signal based on the relative position of said selectively locatable activation knob; receiving said digital output signal using the control module; decoding said digital output signal; and activating or deactivating the lawn tractor device or safety function based on the digital output signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A switch assembly for operating a device or performing a safety function for power equipment, the switch assembly comprising:
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a housing supporting a selectively locatable activation knob facilitated by an actuation assembly; an internal switch arrangement coupled to a printed circuit board within said housing, the internal switch arrangement comprising a switch for determining the relative position of said selectively locatable activation knob and providing a digital output signal for enabling or disabling operation of a power equipment device or power equipment safety function, the activation knob movably connected to one of said switch arrangement and a vane and said switch.
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Specification