Integral switch connector with remote actuator
First Claim
1. An integral switch connector apparatus with remote actuator, which comprises:
- (a) a switch housing with at least a portion of said switch housing formed of a non-conductive material;
(b) a first plurality of conductive terminals disposed within the non-conductive portion of said switch housing;
(c) a second plurality of conductive terminals disposed within the non-conductive portion of said switch housing;
(d) a first slide member slidably disposed at least partially within said switch housing;
(e) resilient, conductive contact arms disposed in spaced relation within said switch housing, one end of each said contact arms operatively secured to at least one of said second plurality of conductive terminals, said contact arms positioned to be biased by said first slide member to make contact with at least one of said first plurality of conductive terminals when said first slide member is extended to a first operative position to provide electrical communication therebetween, said contact arms positioned to bias away from said first plurality of conductive terminals when said first slide member is retracted to a second operative position to break electrical communication therebetween;
(f) an elongated non-conductive, flexible external retaining sleeve, one end operatively secured to said switch housing;
(g) an elongated non-conductive, flexible actuator rod slidably received within said retaining sleeve, one end of said actuator rod operatively secured to said first slide member;
(h) a remote actuator housing, the opposite end of said retaining sleeve operatively secured to said actuator housing;
(i) a second slide member disposed at least partially within said actuator housing, the opposite end of said actuator rod operatively secured to said second slide member;
(j) means to manually bias said second slide member operatively secured to said actuator rod to selectively extend and retract said first slide member to remotely bias said contact arms to make and break electrical communication between at least one of said first and second plurality of conductive terminals, wherein the speed of movement between said first and second operative positions of said contact arms is independent of the speed of movement of said means to manually bias said second slide member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integral switch connector with remote actuator has a plurality of conductive terminals disposed within a switch housing. A slide member is remotely biased to make or break contact between contact arms to switch voltage between terminals. A connector disposed within switch housing provides connection to a remote apparatus. The remote actuator has a snap-action feature, to bias the slide member independently of the speed of movement of the manual biasing means. Movement of the actuator assembly biases a non-conductive actuator rod disposed within a non-conductive sleeve, to bias the slide member within the switch housing to make or break electrical communication between terminals. A spring disposed between the slide member and the switch housing breaks electrical contact between terminals should the actuator rod fail. A link coupling provides a removable connection between rod and sleeve at a location between actuator and switch assemblies.
30 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An integral switch connector apparatus with remote actuator, which comprises:
-
(a) a switch housing with at least a portion of said switch housing formed of a non-conductive material; (b) a first plurality of conductive terminals disposed within the non-conductive portion of said switch housing; (c) a second plurality of conductive terminals disposed within the non-conductive portion of said switch housing; (d) a first slide member slidably disposed at least partially within said switch housing; (e) resilient, conductive contact arms disposed in spaced relation within said switch housing, one end of each said contact arms operatively secured to at least one of said second plurality of conductive terminals, said contact arms positioned to be biased by said first slide member to make contact with at least one of said first plurality of conductive terminals when said first slide member is extended to a first operative position to provide electrical communication therebetween, said contact arms positioned to bias away from said first plurality of conductive terminals when said first slide member is retracted to a second operative position to break electrical communication therebetween; (f) an elongated non-conductive, flexible external retaining sleeve, one end operatively secured to said switch housing; (g) an elongated non-conductive, flexible actuator rod slidably received within said retaining sleeve, one end of said actuator rod operatively secured to said first slide member; (h) a remote actuator housing, the opposite end of said retaining sleeve operatively secured to said actuator housing; (i) a second slide member disposed at least partially within said actuator housing, the opposite end of said actuator rod operatively secured to said second slide member; (j) means to manually bias said second slide member operatively secured to said actuator rod to selectively extend and retract said first slide member to remotely bias said contact arms to make and break electrical communication between at least one of said first and second plurality of conductive terminals, wherein the speed of movement between said first and second operative positions of said contact arms is independent of the speed of movement of said means to manually bias said second slide member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification