Latch and switch interlock safety structure
First Claim
1. A switch assembly for removing electrical power supplied to an electronic module during insertion and removal of the module with a mating connector on a support frame includinga switch fixedly mounted to said module and having a slidable member movable from a first position, wherein said switch is in an OFF state preventing electrical power from being supplied to said module, to a second position, wherein said switch is in an ON state permitting electrical power to be supplied to said module,means for imparting a positional bias to said switch, said positional bias tending to maintain said switch in its OFF state,a generally T-shaped member for overriding said positional bias and actuating said switch when said module is mated with said connector on said support frame, said T-shaped member having a first arm for engaging said slidable member and a second arm having means integral therewith to facilitate imparting a slidable motion to said T-shaped member, said member further having a stem portion which has first and second spaced-apart elongated apertures axially displaced from one another along an axis of said stem for guiding said T-shaped member during said slidable motion, said T-shaped member further including means for holding said switch in its ON state upon actuation,first and second pins affixed to said module, said pins slidably engaging said first and second elongated apertures, andmeans, pivotally mounted on said module, for latching said module to said support frame, said latching means including means for engaging said T-shaped member so that upon insertion and removal of said module said latching means is pivotally rotated imparting an arcuate motion to said T-shaped member releasing said holding means and allowing said positional bias to return said switch to its OFF state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A latch and switch interlock safety structure includes an electronic circuit module having a switch normally biased in an OFF state. Regardless of the switch state, upon insertion and removal of the module into a support frame, the latch mechanism interacts with the switch interlock to ensure removal of electrical power to the module. Only after the module is properly mated with the frame can the switch be actuated to its ON state.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A switch assembly for removing electrical power supplied to an electronic module during insertion and removal of the module with a mating connector on a support frame including
a switch fixedly mounted to said module and having a slidable member movable from a first position, wherein said switch is in an OFF state preventing electrical power from being supplied to said module, to a second position, wherein said switch is in an ON state permitting electrical power to be supplied to said module, means for imparting a positional bias to said switch, said positional bias tending to maintain said switch in its OFF state, a generally T-shaped member for overriding said positional bias and actuating said switch when said module is mated with said connector on said support frame, said T-shaped member having a first arm for engaging said slidable member and a second arm having means integral therewith to facilitate imparting a slidable motion to said T-shaped member, said member further having a stem portion which has first and second spaced-apart elongated apertures axially displaced from one another along an axis of said stem for guiding said T-shaped member during said slidable motion, said T-shaped member further including means for holding said switch in its ON state upon actuation, first and second pins affixed to said module, said pins slidably engaging said first and second elongated apertures, and means, pivotally mounted on said module, for latching said module to said support frame, said latching means including means for engaging said T-shaped member so that upon insertion and removal of said module said latching means is pivotally rotated imparting an arcuate motion to said T-shaped member releasing said holding means and allowing said positional bias to return said switch to its OFF state.
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8. A switch assembly for removing electrical power supplied to an electronic module during insertion and removal of the module with a mating connector on a support frame including
a switch fixedly mounted to said module and having a slidable member movable from a first position, wherein said switch is in an OFF state preventing electrical power from being supplied to said module, to a second position, wherein said switch is in an ON state permitting electrical power to be supplied to said module, said switch further having an insulative support wafer with an elongated aperture in a central region thereof, a torsion spring for imparting a positional bias to said switch, said positional bias tending to maintain said switch in its OFF state, said torsion spring having first and second elongated arms, said first arm engaging said slidable member and said second arm engaging said elongated aperture in said support wafer, a generally T-shaped member for overriding said positional bias and actuating said switch when said module is mated with said connector on said support frame, said T-shaped member having a first arm for engaging said slidable member and a second arm having means integral therewith to facilitate imparting a slidable motion to said T-shaped member, said member further having a stem portion which has first and second spaced-apart elongated apertures axially displaced from one another along an axis of said stem for guiding said T-shaped member during said slidable motion, first and second pins affixed to said module, said pins slidably engaging said first and second elongated apertures, a detent at an end of said first elongated aperture juxtaposed said second elongated aperture, said detent engaging said first pin as slidable motion is imparted to said T-shaped member second arm and holding said switch in its ON state upon actuation, and means, pivotally mounted on said module, for latching said module to said support frame, said latching means including means for engaging said stem of said T-shaped member so that upon insertion and removal of said module said latching means is pivotally rotated imparting an arcuate motion to said T-shaped member, releasing said detent from said first pin and allowing said torsion spring to return said switch to its OFF state.
Specification