Push button safety switch
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a boat motor comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) a movable plunger disposed in the housing having first and second contacts;
(c) a switch terminal in continuous sliding contact with the plunger, said switch terminal coupleable to a motor control circuit for de-activating the boat motor when the switch terminal contacts one of said first and second contacts;
(d) biasing means coupled to the plunger for urging the plunger toward a first position in which the switch terminal contact the first contact;
(e) an actuator coupled to the plunger for allowing a boat operator to move the plunger toward the second position; and
(f) a clip movably engageable with the actuator so that the clip counters the bias of the biasing means when engaged with the actuator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A push button safety switch. A pair of switch terminals are mounted within a housing which also carries a plunger for movement relative to the housing. The plunger is biased for movement along a path of travel by a compressed spring. A push button actuator has a knob for contact by user and a plunger actuator carried by the knob. The actuator also defines a stem portion to support a tether clip coupled to the boat operator. The boat motor ignition circuit is electrically connected to the switch terminals and the motor can be de-activated by either user contact with the knob or through movement of the plunger initiated by separation of the tether clip from the push button actuator.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a boat motor comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a movable plunger disposed in the housing having first and second contacts; (c) a switch terminal in continuous sliding contact with the plunger, said switch terminal coupleable to a motor control circuit for de-activating the boat motor when the switch terminal contacts one of said first and second contacts; (d) biasing means coupled to the plunger for urging the plunger toward a first position in which the switch terminal contact the first contact; (e) an actuator coupled to the plunger for allowing a boat operator to move the plunger toward the second position; and (f) a clip movably engageable with the actuator so that the clip counters the bias of the biasing means when engaged with the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for controlling operation of a boat motor comprising:
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(a) user controllable throttle for adjusting boat motor idle speed; and (b) a switch mounted on said throttle including; (i) a plurality of spaced apart switch terminals in continuous sliding engagement with a plunger and coupleable to a motor control circuit for de-activating the boat motor; (ii) said plunger having contact means for bridging the spaced apart switch terminals in either of first and second plunger positions relative to the throttle; (iii) biasing means coupled to the plunger for urging the plunger toward the first position; and (iv) an actuator coupled to the plunger to allow a boat operator to move the plunger toward the second position; and (v) a clip movably engageable with the actuator so that the clip counters the bias of the biasing means when engaged with the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of assembling and then controlling the operation of a boat motor having a circuit for de-activating the motor comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning an insulating plunger between a pair of stationary spaced terminals coupled to the circuit for sliding the plunger against the terminals; (b) affixing first and second conductors on the plunger for bridging the terminals so that the circuit for de-activating the motor is closed when the terminals are bridged by one of said first and second conductors; (d) biasing the plunger in a sense tending to move the plunger toward a position in which the terminals are bridged by the first conductor; (e) positioning a push button plunger actuator against the plunger for moving the plunger toward a position in which the terminals are bridged by the second conductor; and (f) wedging a clip into a position between a retaining knob on the push button plunger actuator and the plunger so as to retard the plunger from reaching the position in which the terminals are bridged by the first conductor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A switch in combination with a boat motor having a boat motor de-activation circuit and a throttle control for adjusting boat motor idle speed;
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said switch comprising two switch terminals, one of which terminals is electrically connected to the boat motor de-activation circuit so that the boat motor de-activation circuit is closed when the switch terminals are bridged;
a conductor for bridging the switch terminals;
a biasing means for biasing the conductor toward bridging contact with the switch terminals;
an actuator aligned with the conductor and having a knob; and
a clip coupleable to the actuator in a position between the knob and the conductor so as to retard the conductor from moving into contact with the terminals;said boat motor also including a tiller having a central axis and mounting the switch and throttle control to allow a boat operator to move the conductor out of bridging contact with the switch terminals by applying a force on the knob toward the tiller along the central axis.
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Specification