Switch actuating mechanism

• US 4,389,550 A
• Filed: 08/31/1981
• Issued: 06/21/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John J. Reiter
• Original Assignee: John J. Reiter
• Inventors: Reiter, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, III, James E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cusick, Ernest
• Application Number:
  US06/297,877
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 200/44, 200/333, 200/50 A, 200/61.58 R, 200/334, 200/340, 200/332, 200/330
• US Class Current: 200/43.13
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/68 having two operating members, one for opening and one for closing the same set of contacts single operating member protruding from different sides of switch casing for alternate pushing upon opposite ends H01H15/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/022 Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/285 Locking mechanisms incorporated in the switch assembly and operable by a key or a special tool

Abstract

A safety device for power control in various situations. A housing contains an electrical toggle-type switch which is connected in circuit with the power source and the various elements to be controlled. A depression of a first push-button of relatively small size causes a switch to be turned on, while a subsequent depression of a relatively large surface member pivotally secured to the housing causes the toggle switch to be turned off. A key-operated lock prevents unauthorized operation of the first push-button.

Claims

1. A switch actuating mechanism to be used with electrical motor driven apparatus for facilitating the energization and deenergization thereof, comprising, in combination:

(a) an electrical junction box for containing an electrical switch to be actuated, said electrical switch having at least one operating lever extending through a top surface of said box;

(b) a broad surface member of a predetermined length and width dimension pivotally coupled to said junction box;

(c) a housing affixed to said top surface of said electrical junction box having mating mutually perpendicular top, front and side walls, said front wall being of a height less than said side walls to define an opening;

(d) a push button member of a relatively small size compared to said broad surface member mounted for reciprocal movement within said opening of said housing;

(e) means coupling said push button member to said operating lever for moving said lever to an "on" position when said push button member is depressed; and

(f) means coupling said broad surface member to said switch operating lever for moving said lever to an "off" position when said broad surface member is depressed.

2. The switch actuating mechanism as in claim 1 and further including:

(a) key operated lock means mounted on said housing, said lock means including means for preventing depression of said push button member when said lock means is in a locked condition.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said key operated lock means comprises:

(a) a key receiving tumbler assembly;

(b) a cam secured to said tumbler assembly and rotatable only when a proper key is inserted in said key receiving tumbler assembly; and

(c) a cam follower mounted within said housing and operatively connected to said cam for movement between first and second positions when said key is turned in said tumbler assembly, said first position being disposed in a path of travel of said push button member and said second position being out of said path of travel of said push button.

4. The switch actuating mechanism of claim 1 wherein said broad surface member has a rectangular opening formed proximate the center of the upper edge thereof, said rectangular opening being in alignment with said rectangular opening of said housing.

5. The switch actuating mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means coupling said broad surface member to said switch operating lever comprises:

(a) a spring-loaded plunger means having first and second ends, said plunger means mounted in said front wall of said housing and having one of said first and second ends of said plunger means in alignment with said switch operating lever and another of said first and second ends of said plunger means disposed adjacent to said broad surface member.

6. The switch actuating mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said means coupling said push button member to said operating lever comprises:

(a) a rocker arm having first and second ends and a pivot support therebetween, said rocker arm being pivotally supported within said housing and having one of said first and second ends below said pivot support for engaging said switch operating lever; and

(b) guide rib means affixed to said push button member and extending through slot means formed in said front wall of said housing, said guide rib means coupled to the other of said first and second ends of said rocker arm above said pivot support.

7. The switch actuating mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said electrical junction box comprises:

(a) integrally formed side, rear, top and bottom panel members, said side and rear panel members being of a predetermined length, said side members having outwardly extending flanges along one side edge thereof;

(b) a generally U-shaped channel member having a rectangular base portion and side walls extending perpendicularly therefrom, said channel member having upper and lower generally parallel edges and being of a length substantially greater than said predetermined length; and

(c) means attaching said flanges to said base portion of said channel member whereby said base portion of said channel member forms the front face of said junction box, said broad surface member being pivotally attached to said side walls of said channel member at a location proximate said lower edge of said channel member.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 and further including a compression coil spring disposed between said broad surface member and said base portion of said channel member to normally urge them apart from one another.

9. The switch actuating mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said electrical switch includes a further operating lever, said one operating lever being coupled to said push button member and said further operating lever being coupled to said broad surface member.

10. The switch actuating mechanism as in claim 9 and further including a spring-loaded plunger disposed in said front wall of said housing, said plunger being aligned with said further of said operating levers, and actuated by a force applied to said broad surface member.

11. Switching apparatus for use in connecting an electric load to a source of electrical energy to facilitate the energization and de-energization of said load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing having an open face and comprising a central deeper trough open at one end and a closed other end and lateral shallower trays;

(b) an actuation chamber at the closed other end of said trough;

(c) removable partition means defining in said housing a connection chamber between said actuation chamber and said open end;

(d) switch means in said connection chamber adapted to couple said load and to said source of electrical energy, said switch means including lever means for causing operation thereof extending into said actuation chamber;

(e) a cover for said trough secured to said housing and apposed in front of said open face, said cover having a rectangular opening;

(f) a broad-surface actuating member supported by said cover for pivotal movement outside said cover about an axis parallel to said broad surface;

(g) a push-button means of relatively small size comparred to said actuating member;

(h) means mounting said push-button means for reciprocating motion within said rectangular opening in a direction orthogonal to said axis;

(i) means carried by said removable partition means for enabling connection of said switch means to said source and said load;

(j) means in said actuation chamber coupling said push-button means to said lever means to cause said switch means to complete an energizing circuit for said load when said push-button means is depressed; and

(k) means connecting said broad-surface actuating member to said lever means to cause said switch means to interrupt said energizing circuit when said broad surface actuating member is depressed.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 and further comprising key actuated means projecting into said actuation chamber for locking said first linkage means to prevent operation of said push-button member.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the said broad-surface actuating member is circumscribed by said housing so that it can be contacted substantially at only said outer face thereof.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said partition means mounts a connecting cord, a relay, and a receptacle.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said partition means mounts a connecting cord and a receptacle.

16. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said partition means mounts a plurality of knockouts.

17. Switching apparatus for use with an electric motor to facilitate the connection and disconnection of said motor to a source of electrical energy thereof, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing having an open face and comprising a central trough having one open end and one closed end;

(b) an actuation chamber at said closed end of said trough;

(c) partition means defining in said trough a connection chamber between said actuation chamber and said one open end;

(d) switch means in said connection chamber for connection of said motor to said source of electrical energy, said switch means including lever means for causing operating thereof extending into said actuation chamber;

(e) a cover for said trough secured to said housing, and having a rectangular opening;

(f) a broad-surface actuating member supported by said cover for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said broad surface and having an outer face; and

(g) switch actuating means in said actuation chamber including a push-button member of relatively small size compared to said broad-surface actuating member, means mounting said push-button member for reciprocating motion in said actuation chamber through said rectangular opening, in a direction orthogonal to said axis first linkage means in said actuation chamber coupling said push-button member to said lever means for operating said switch means when said push-button means is depressed, and second linkage means in said actuation chamber coupling said broad-surface actuating member to said lever means to operate said switch means when said broad surface means is depressed.