Multi-position switch
First Claim
1. A multi-position switch including, a housing having a cavity therein, an actuator rod provided with a lower portion disposed within said housing cavity, a contactor joined to said rod within said housing cavity, supporting means joined to said rod lower portion to maintain said rod in a normal at-rest axial position within said housing and allow radial displacement thereof, said joined contactor, rod and supporting means of electrically conductive material and defining a common primary side of a plurality of circuits to be completed upon said radial displacement of said rod, a plurality of normally free-standing longitudinal conductive contacts surrounding said contactor and spaced therefrom when said rod is in said at-rest position, selected ones of said contacts representing the secondary side of a plurality of circuits, said housing including a control element surrounding said rod and adapted to restrict the displacement of said rod into a plurality of radial directions aligned with respective ones of said contacts and alternately disposed intermediate other ones of said contacts, said control element including a plurality of radially extending valleys for receiving said rod and allowing its radial displacement, alternate ones of said valleys aligned with at least one of said contacts associated with a single circuit whereby displacement of said rod into one of said alternate valleys directs said contactor into engagement with at least one of said associated contacts to complete a single circuit, and intermediate ones of said valleys vertically disposed intermediate two of said contacts associated with two separate circuits whereby displacement of said rod into one of said intermediate valleys directs said contactor into engagement with said contacts associated with two separate circuits to complete both of said two circuits.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-position switch includes a movable actuator rod projecting from one end of a housing and having a cylindrical contactor disc within the housing displaceable into a plurality of radial positions to actuate a selected one or a selected pair of circuits as the contactor engages and radially deflects adjacent ones of a plurality of resilient contacts arranged concentrically about the actuator rod. The displacement of the rod and its disc is regulated by an encircling control element provided with alternate radial crests and valleys. Groups of adjacent contacts are electrically joined in series such that displacement of the disc into a control element valley axially aligned with any one group of contacts closes one circuit while displacement into either adjacent control element valley closes an alternate circuit involving two adjacent series of contacts. An additional circuit is regulated by either of two means including the axial depression of a handle on the actuator rod to close a circuit through the rod, handle and housing of the switch or alternatively, by means of a trigger mounted exteriorly of the housing and selectively closing a separate contact switch assembly attached to the housing.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A multi-position switch including, a housing having a cavity therein, an actuator rod provided with a lower portion disposed within said housing cavity, a contactor joined to said rod within said housing cavity, supporting means joined to said rod lower portion to maintain said rod in a normal at-rest axial position within said housing and allow radial displacement thereof, said joined contactor, rod and supporting means of electrically conductive material and defining a common primary side of a plurality of circuits to be completed upon said radial displacement of said rod, a plurality of normally free-standing longitudinal conductive contacts surrounding said contactor and spaced therefrom when said rod is in said at-rest position, selected ones of said contacts representing the secondary side of a plurality of circuits, said housing including a control element surrounding said rod and adapted to restrict the displacement of said rod into a plurality of radial directions aligned with respective ones of said contacts and alternately disposed intermediate other ones of said contacts, said control element including a plurality of radially extending valleys for receiving said rod and allowing its radial displacement, alternate ones of said valleys aligned with at least one of said contacts associated with a single circuit whereby displacement of said rod into one of said alternate valleys directs said contactor into engagement with at least one of said associated contacts to complete a single circuit, and intermediate ones of said valleys vertically disposed intermediate two of said contacts associated with two separate circuits whereby displacement of said rod into one of said intermediate valleys directs said contactor into engagement with said contacts associated with two separate circuits to complete both of said two circuits.
Specification