Multi-position wall mountable control switch with tactile feedback linear actuator
First Claim
1. A switch comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electrical contacts defining a plurality of different switch settings;
(b) an actuator movable in a linear path between positions corresponding to each switch setting;
(c) roller means disposed between the actuator and a stationary bearing surface for rolling the actuator in the linear path over the stationary bearing surface upon application of an external sliding force to the actuator, the stationary bearing surface being distinct from, and the roller means being substantially electrically isolated from, the electrical contacts, the roller means carrying a conductor for establishing an electrical connection between the contacts at each setting, the conductor being raised away from the electrical contacts between switch settings.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple position wall mountable linear slide switch has a wheel disposed between a linearly moveable actuator and a stationary bearing surface for rolling the actuator in a linear path over the bearing surface upon application of an external sliding force to the actuator. The wheel carries a conductive axle for establishing an electrical connection between switch contacts defining each switch setting. The bearing surface has a plurality of detents, one associated with each switch setting, so that, as the actuator is moved from one position to another, the wheel rolls out of one detent then into another. This motion of the wheel automatically raises the axle away from the contacts at one setting then lowers the axle onto the contacts at an immediately subsequent setting as the actuator is moved between corresponding positions. Additionally, a spring is disposed between the actuator and the wheel/axle combination to urge the wheel against the bearing surface to provide a tactile feedback to the user as the actuator is moved into and out of each setting and to urge the axle against the contacts at each setting.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A switch comprising:
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(a) a plurality of electrical contacts defining a plurality of different switch settings; (b) an actuator movable in a linear path between positions corresponding to each switch setting; (c) roller means disposed between the actuator and a stationary bearing surface for rolling the actuator in the linear path over the stationary bearing surface upon application of an external sliding force to the actuator, the stationary bearing surface being distinct from, and the roller means being substantially electrically isolated from, the electrical contacts, the roller means carrying a conductor for establishing an electrical connection between the contacts at each setting, the conductor being raised away from the electrical contacts between switch settings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A switch comprising:
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a) a plurality of electrical contacts defining a plurality of different switch settings; b) an actuator movable in a linear path between positions corresponding to each switch setting and having associated therewith a conductor movable with the actuator for establishing an electrical connection between the contacts at each setting; and
,c) means cooperating with the conductor for automatically raising the conductor away from the contacts at one setting then lowering the conductor onto the contacts at a immediately subsequent setting as the actuator is moved between the corresponding positions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A switch comprising:
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a) a printed circuit board having disposed thereon a plurality of electrical contacts defining a plurality of different switch settings, the printed circuit board having a detent adjacent the contacts of each switch setting; b) an actuator movable in a linear path between positions corresponding to each switch setting; c) spring loaded roller means coupled to the actuator for rolling on the printed circuit board in response to application of an external sliding force to the actuator, the roller means being urged against the printed circuit board by a spring force provided by the spring loaded roller means, the roller means being rolled into and urged against one of the detents by the spring force when the actuator has been moved to a position corresponding to one of the switch settings, the roller means including an integral conductor for establishing an electrical connection between contacts at each setting when the roller has been rolled into and urged against a corresponding detent, the rolling and urging of the roller means into a detent providing a positive tactile feedback to a user moving the actuator that an electrical connection has been established. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A multi-position slide switch comprising:
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a) a support plate defining a yoke having inner and outer surfaces and adapted to be mounted to an electrical wall box embedded in a wall; b) a linearly movable actuator disposed adjacent the inner surface of the yoke and having a stalk extending through the yoke accessible from the outer surface for applying a sliding force to the actuator, the actuator having first means for receiving an electrically conductive axle carrying a resilient wheel and second means for applying a spring force to the axle, the axle and wheel moving together with the actuator; c) a cradle disposed adjacent the inner surface of the yoke and having a pair of guide rails supporting the actuator and defining a linear path for movement of the actuator; d) a circuit board mounted to the cradle and having a control circuit disposed thereon including plural pairs of opposing electrical contacts disposed on a portion of the board circumscribed by the cradle and further having a detent associated with each pair of contacts, the detents being substantially aligned in a path of travel of the wheel, each pair of contacts and associated detent defining a different switch setting, the spring force urging the wheel against the board and the wheel travelling on the board in-between switch settings and, at a switch setting, the spring force urging the wheel into one of the detents and urging the axle into electrical contact with and establishing an electrical connection between the pairs of contacts at the switch setting, the spring force, wheel and detents cooperating to automatically raise the axle away from the contacts at one setting then lower the axle onto the contacts at a subsequent setting as the actuator is moved so as to prevent the axle from dragging appreciably on the contacts. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A multi-position slide switch for controlling the speed of a fan comprising:
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a) a support plate defining a yoke having inner and outer surfaces and adapted to be mounted to an electrical wall box having a width of about 1 31/32" and a length of about 3 9/32" embedded in a wall; b) a linearly movable actuator disposed adjacent the inner surface of the yoke and having a stalk extending through the yoke accessible from the outer surface for applying a sliding force to the actuator, the actuator having a pair of outwardly extending members and a notch for receiving an electrically conductive axle carrying a resilient wheel, there being a substantially U-shaped spring disposed about the pair of members having one pair of legs urging against the actuator and another pair of legs urging against the axle for applying a spring force to the axle, the axle, wheel and U-shaped spring moving together with the actuator; c) a cradle disposed adjacent the inner surface of the yoke and having a pair of guide rails supporting the actuator and defining a linear path for movement of the actuator; d) a circuit board mounted to the cradle and having a control circuit disposed thereon including plural pairs of opposing electrical contacts disposed on a portion of the board circumscribed by the cradle, each pair of contacts representing a desired speed of the fan, and further having a detent associated with each pair of contacts, the detents being substantially aligned in a path of travel of the wheel, each pair of contacts and associated detent defining a different switch setting, the U-shaped spring urging the wheel against the board and the wheel travelling on the board in-between switch settings and, at a switch setting, the U-shaped spring urging the wheel into one of the detents and urging the axle into electrical contact with and establishing an electrical connection between the pairs of contacts at the switch setting, the U-shaped spring, wheel and detents cooperating to automatically raise the axle away from the contacts at one setting then lower the axle onto the contacts at a subsequent setting as the actuator is moved so as to prevent the axle from dragging appreciably on the contacts; the sliding force required to be applied to the stalk to move the actuator from a first position corresponding to one setting to a second position corresponding to another immediately preceding or succeeding setting increasing from the first position to a location in-between the first and second positions then decreasing from the location in-between the first and second positions to the second position, and wherein, when the actuator has been moved to within proximity of a position corresponding to one of the settings, the action of spring loading rapidly urges the wheel into the associated detent to provide a first snap action tactile feedback via the stalk to the user, and when the actuator is moved out of a position corresponding to a setting, the action of the wheel rolling out of the associated detent resists but rapidly overcomes the spring loading to provide a second snap action tactile feedback via the stalk to the user. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76)
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Specification