Multiple switch assembly having independent operators rotatably cumming discrete leaf spring type contact assemblies

• US 3,900,709 A
• Filed: 04/15/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Vito Pauza, Wilmer Lee Sheesley
• Original Assignee: William Vito Pauza, Wilmer Lee Sheesley
• Inventors: Sheesley, Wilmer Lee, Pauza, William Vito
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/460,843
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1R,1A,6R,6BA,6BB,6C,11R,16R,17R,18,153L,153LA,164R,164A 29/622,63C,63G,193.5 113/119
• US Class Current: 200/5.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5805 Connections to printed circuits for slide switches H01H15/005; for tumbler switches H01H23/006
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0056 comprising a successive blank-stamping, insert-moulding and severing operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/60 Angularly-movable actuating part carrying no contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/145 by crossing each other, the cooperating contacts each having a contact making ridge perpendicular to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/22 Operating parts, e.g. handle

Abstract

The present invention discloses a low-profile package containing one or more individually operated switches. More particularly, the present invention consists of an insulating two-piece housing having therein one or more single pole - single throw switches all of which have been stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material. The upper portion of the housing contains one or more switch actuators which can be depressed to provide momentary switch closure or rotated to provide continuous switch closure.

Claims

1. A package containing one or more separate electrical switches, which comprises:

a. an insulating housing consisting of a base and a cover and having an interior space in which one or more switches are positioned, said cover having one or more distinct apertures extending into the interior space, each aperture being in alignment with a switch, said base having interior support means for supporting the one or more switches;

b. one or more electrical switch contact assemblies stamped and formed from a coplanar sheet of material, each switch contact assemblies having a fixed arm extending into the interior space from one side of the housing and a resilient movable arm extending obliquely upwardly into the interior space from another side of the housing with the free end thereof being spaced above the free end of the fixed arm, and further, legs integral with and extending from each arm depending from the respective sides of the housing for insertion into electrical circuit openings;

c. one or more actuating means movably positioned in the one or more apertures and in biasing contact with the one or more movable arms for removably moving the movable arm into contact with the fixed arm thereby permitting an electrical current which may be present in one arm to flow therefrom to the other arm; and

d. retaining means positioned on the one or more actuating means for retaining, in cooperation with the biasing contact of the one or more movable arms, the actuating means in the apertures.

2. The base of claim 1 further having interior stop means positioned between the support means for limiting downward travel of the movable arm.

3. The package of claim 1 wherein the walls defining the one or more apertures extending into the interior space contain an inclined camming surface Recessed thereinto and the retaining means on the actuating means include a laterally projecting pin which rides on the camming surface so that as the actuating means are rotated, cooperation between the camming surface and pin cause the actuating means to be vertically displaced.

4. The camming surface of claim 3 having pin-receiving grooves extending across and at each end thereof to receive and seat the pin on the actuating means.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the actuating means include a generally cylindrical body whose lower end which contacts the movable arm is a generally spherical surface.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein one switch including its actuating means is horizontally displaced relative to an adjacent switch and actuating means.

7. The package of claim 1 wherein the movable arm at rest extends obliquely into the interior space at an angle of from about zero to about 90* relative to the base.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein the actuating means include a generally cylindrical body whose lower end is a flat surface with a rounded edge, said edge being in contact with the movable arm.

9. A package containing one or more electrical switches, which comprises:

a. an insulating housing consisting of a base and a cover and having an interior space therein, said housing further having one or more apertures extending from the surface of the cover into the space with the wall of each aperture adjacent the interior space having a circumferentiallyextending slanted portion to provide a camming surface;

b. one or more electrical switch contact assemblies, stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material, each switch contact assembly including a fixed arm extending into the interior space from one side of the housing with a leg integral therewith and perpendicular thereto depending from the housing, and a resilient movable arm extending into and across the interior space from another side of the housing with the free end of the movable arm being spaced above the fixed arm and a leg integral with and perpendicular to the movable arm depending from the housing on that another side; and

c. one or more generally cylindrical contact actuators having a dome-shaped lower end in contact with and being biased by the movable arm and a laterally projecting pin positioned between the upper and lower ends, each actuators positioned in an aperture with the pin riding on the camming surface so that as the actuator is rotated, it moves vertically whereby the movable arm engages or disengages the fixed arm said pin and biasing of the movable arm cooperating to retain the actuators in the apertures.

10. A package containing one or more individually actuated electrical switches, which comprises:

a. a rectangular base of insulating material having one or move vertical slots on each side and further having a first and second upwardly projecting, rounded rails, each extending longitudinally along an edge of the surface, said rails defining a cavity thereinbetween;

b. one or more switch contact assemblies stamped and formed from a coplanar sheet of conductive material, each assembly having, i. a first contact member positioned on one side of the base and having a fixed arm extending over the cavity, a bent, intermediate portion extending from the fixed arm, over the first rail and down through the vertical slot on the side of the base, and a leg extending from the intermediate portion and depending from the base, and ii. a second contact member positioned on the opposite side of the base from the first contact member and having a resilient movable arm extending across the cavity and spaced above the fixed arm, a bent intermediate portion extending from the movable arm, over the second rail and down through the vertical slot on that opposite side of the base, and a leg extending axially downwardly from the intermediate portion and depending from the base;

c. an inverted U-shaped cover of insulating material positioned over the base and forming therewith an interior space accommodating the one or more fixed and movable arms, said cover having one or more apertures extending from the top surface into the space, each being in alignment with a movable arm on the second contact member and each having on a portion of the wall defining the opening into the interior space a slanted camming surface; and

d. one or more cylindrical contact actuators having a lower end, a upper end and a laterally projecting pin between the ends, each of said actuators positioned in an aperture with the upper end recessed with respect to the surface of the cover, with the lower end in biasing contact with a movable arm and with the pin positioned to ride on the camming surface so that rotational movement of the actuator results in vertical movement which causes the movable arm to eitehr engage or disengage the fixed arm thereby closing or opening an electrical circuit said pin and biasing contact cooperating to retain the actuators in the aperture.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein the base includes an upwardly projecting ridge extending longitudinally along the surface of the cavity and adapted to limit the downward displacement of the movable arm.

12. The package of claim 10 wherein arcuate depressions are positioned at either end of the camming surface, said depressions adapted to receive and removably seat the pin on the actuator thereby preventing unintentional rotational movement thereof.

13. The package of claim 10 wherein the movable arm at rest extends obliquely into the interior space at an angle with respect to the base of from about 0* to about 90*.

14. The movable arm of claim 13 wherein the angle is about 30* with respect to the horizontal.

15. The package of claim 10 wherein the depending legs of the switch assemblies are displaced inwardly relative to the intermediate portions.

16. A package containing one or more electrical switches, which comprises:

a. an insulating housing consisting of a cover and base and having an interior space therein, said cover having one or more individual apertures extending from the surface of the cover into the space with the wall of each aperture adjacent the interior space having a circumferentiallyextending slanted portion to provide a camming surface;

b. one or more electrical switch contact assemblies, stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material, each switch contact assembly including a fixed arm extending into the interior space from one side of the housing with a leg integral therewith and perpendicular thereto depending from the housing, and a movable arm resiliently formed to extend into and across the interior space from another side of the housing with the free end of the movable arm being spaced above the fixed arm and a leg integral with and perpendicular to the movable arm depending from the housing on that another side; and

c. one or more generally cylindrical contact actuators having a lower end in contact with the movable arm and a laterally projecting pin positioned between the upper and lower ends, each actuators positioned in an aperture with the pin riding on the camming surface so that as the actuator is rotated, it moves vertically whereby the movable arm engages or disengages the fixed arm said actuators being biased upwardly in the apertures by the movable arm.

17. A package containing one or more individually actuated electrical switches, which comprises:

a. a rectangular base of insulating material having one or more vertical slots on each side and further having a first and second upwardly projecting, rounded rails, each extending longitudinally along an edge of the surface, said rails defining a cavity thereinbetween;

b. one or more switch contact assemblies stamped and formed from a coplanar sheet of conductive material, each assembly having, i. a first contact member positioned on one side oF the base and having a fixed arm extending over the cavity, a bent, intermediate portion extending from the fixed arm, over the first rail down through the vertical slot on the side of the base, and a leg extending axially downwardly from the intermediate portion and depending from the base, and ii. a second contact member positioned on the opposite side of the base from the first contact member and having a resilient movable arm extending across the cavity at an oblique angle and spaced above the fixed arm, a bent intermediate portion extending from the movable arm, over the second rail and down through the vertical slot on that opposite side of the base, and a leg extending axially downwardly from the intermediate portion and depending from the base;

c. an inverted U-shaped cover of insulating material positioned over the base and forming therewith an interior space accommodating the one or more fixed and movable arms, said cover having one or more apertures extending from the top surface into the space, each being in alignment with a movable arm on the second contact member and each having on a portion of the wall defining the opening into the interior space a slanted camming surface; and

d. one or more cylindrical contact actuators having a generally rounded lower end contacting a movable arm, a upper end and a laterally projecting pin between the ends, each of said actuators positioned in an aperture with the upper end recessed with respect to the surface of the cover and with the pin positioned to ride on the camming surface so that rotational movement of the actuator results in vertical movement which causes the movable arm to either engage or disengage the fixed arm thereby closing or opening an electrical circuit the resilient movable arm biasing the pin upwardly against the camming surface.