Miniature single in-line package electrical switch
First Claim
1. A single in-line package switch for electrical circuits comprising:
- A. insulating housing means having first and second elongated cavities, each with a first end section, a second end section and an intermediate support portion, a seat portion being formed in at least one of said cavity second end sections, and a terminal for each said cavity, each said terminal having a contact end section disposed on a corresponding one of said support portions and a terminal section external to said insulating housing means for connection to an electrical circuit,B. unitary contact means having a common strip section transverse to said cavity first end sections and a plurality of spaced, parallel contact fingers cantilevered from said common strip section, each said contact finger being aligned with one of said cavities and including a free end section in contact with a terminal contact end section in said corresponding cavity thereby providing an electrical path between said common strip section and said corresponding terminal, andC. an actuator means being located in each said cavity seat portion for displacement between first and second positions and having contact finger engaging means for engaging said free end section of said corresponding contact finger, said contact engaging means, in the first and second positions of said actuator, permitting and breaking respectively said electrical path between said common strip section and said corresponding terminal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A single in-line package switch for individually switching a number of terminals to establish separate conductive paths with a common terminal. The switch comprises an insulating housing with a number of terminal pins exceeding the number of switching poles by one. The insulating housing has an internal cavity corresponding to each terminal switch and recesses in certain of the cavities for receiving rotary actuators. A cover and base clamp a common strip portion of a contact finger structure and bias cantilevered contact fingers into engagement with internal contact end sections of the terminals. One of the contact fingers permanently contacts one terminal connected to a reference potential, thereby establishing a fixed electrical path between the common strip portion and the reference potential. Each actuator includes a planar portion for engaging a free end section of the contact fingers for producing the switching action. The actuators and insulating base have coacting means that provide detent and snap action.
19 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A single in-line package switch for electrical circuits comprising:
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A. insulating housing means having first and second elongated cavities, each with a first end section, a second end section and an intermediate support portion, a seat portion being formed in at least one of said cavity second end sections, and a terminal for each said cavity, each said terminal having a contact end section disposed on a corresponding one of said support portions and a terminal section external to said insulating housing means for connection to an electrical circuit, B. unitary contact means having a common strip section transverse to said cavity first end sections and a plurality of spaced, parallel contact fingers cantilevered from said common strip section, each said contact finger being aligned with one of said cavities and including a free end section in contact with a terminal contact end section in said corresponding cavity thereby providing an electrical path between said common strip section and said corresponding terminal, and C. an actuator means being located in each said cavity seat portion for displacement between first and second positions and having contact finger engaging means for engaging said free end section of said corresponding contact finger, said contact engaging means, in the first and second positions of said actuator, permitting and breaking respectively said electrical path between said common strip section and said corresponding terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A multiple pole, single in-line package, switch for electrical circuits comprising:
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A. insulating housing means having a common cavity and a plurality of switching cavities corresponding to the number of poles, each said cavity being elongated and having a first end section, a second end section and an intermediate support portion, a seat portion being formed in at least one of said cavity second end sections, and a terminal for each said cavity, each said terminal having a contact end section disposed on a corresponding one of said support portions and a terminal section external to said insulating housing means for connection to an electrical circuit, B. unitary contact means having a common strip section transverse to said cavity first end sections and a plurality of spaced, parallel contact fingers cantilevered from said common strip section, each said contact finger being aligned with one of said cavities and including a free end section in contact with a terminal contact end section in said corresponding cavity thereby providing an electrical path between said common strip section and said corresponding terminal, and C. an actuator means being located in each said switching cavity seat portion for displacement between first and second positions and having contact finger engaging means for engaging said free end section of said corresponding contact finger, said contact engaging means, in the first and second positions of said actuator, permitting and breaking respectively said electrical path between said common strip section and said corresponding terminal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification