Seesaw switch

• US 4,408,105 A
• Filed: 11/19/1981
• Issued: 10/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, John W.
• Application Number:
  US06/323,033
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 200/67 G, 200/68, 200/244, 200/238, 200/6 BA, 200/6 R
• US Class Current: 200/437
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5833 comprising an articulating, sliding or rolling contact between movable contact and terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/12 Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon

Abstract

In a seesaw switch having a central terminal, stationary terminals disposed on respective sides of the central terminal, and a movable contact piece placed over the central terminal, the movable contact piece being rocked so as to connect or disconnect the central terminal and the corresponding stationary terminal, the improvement comprising the fact that a receiver for the movable contact piece is provided with an arcuate guide portion interposed between said movable contact piece and said middle terminal for supporting said movable contact piece in a turnable fashion.

Claims

1. In a switch having a central terminal, stationary terminals disposed on respective sides of the central terminal, and a movable contact piece placed over the central terminal, the movable contact piece being movable pivotally so as to connect or disconnect the central terminal and a corresponding stationary terminal, the improvement wherein a receiver for the movable contact piece is provided with means including arcuate guide portions extending upwardly from opposite sides of said movable contact piece for supporting said movable contact piece against lateral movement during its pivotal movement, and said movable contact piece including engaging means adapted to ride along said arcuate guide portions whereby said guide portions serve to support said movable contact piece laterally while providing a arcuate guide for supporting said movable contact during its entire range of movement.

2. A switch according to claim 1, wherein said receiver is formed by bending a metallic plate into the shape of the letter U, said metal plate having a quadrilateral hole and being placed on said middle terminal, and a middle part of said movable contact piece being located in the hole of said receiver.

3. A switch according to claim 2, wherein said engaging means includes four engaging pieces adapted to come into sliding contact with the arcuate guide parts of said receiver.

4. A switch according to claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a pair of arcuate guide parts rising from its base part and is placed on said middle terminal, a a middle part of said movable contact piece is located between said pair of arcuate guide portions of said receiver.

5. A switch according to claim 4, wherein said engaging means includes four engaging pieces adapted to come into sliding contact with said arcuate guide portions of said receiver.