Electrical tilt switch
First Claim
1. A tilt switch for opening and closing an electric circuit in accordance with the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:
- a cavity formed within a conductive housing, said cavity enclosing an atmosphere that is inert to conductive materials;
at least one free moving spherical weight, having a predetermined radius of curvature and a conductive circumferential surface, positioned in said cavity, said at least one spherical weight moving to an operating position within said cavity when said at least one spherical weight is biased by gravity to said operating position by the angle of inclination of said housing; and
at least one conductive terminal positioned at said operating position, wherein said at least one conductive terminal has an arcuate groove of said predetermined radius of curvature disposed thereon, said at least one spherical weight engaging said arcuate groove at said operating position electrically coupling said at least one conductive terminal to said conductive housing, thereby completing said electric circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tilt switch having at least one conductive weight held within an inert atmosphere within a housing. The weight being free moving within the housing, moving from one end of the housing to the other as the angle of inclination of the housing is changed. At one end of the housing are positioned the contact points of at least two terminals. As the weight abuts against the terminals, electricity is conducted through the weight from one terminal to the other; thus completing a circuit. The terminals may be shaped, or the number of conductive weights increased, to increase the area of contact between the weights and the terminals. The increased surface area results in a more reliable tilt switch that has increased performance characteristics and a higher power capacity.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tilt switch for opening and closing an electric circuit in accordance with the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:
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a cavity formed within a conductive housing, said cavity enclosing an atmosphere that is inert to conductive materials; at least one free moving spherical weight, having a predetermined radius of curvature and a conductive circumferential surface, positioned in said cavity, said at least one spherical weight moving to an operating position within said cavity when said at least one spherical weight is biased by gravity to said operating position by the angle of inclination of said housing; and at least one conductive terminal positioned at said operating position, wherein said at least one conductive terminal has an arcuate groove of said predetermined radius of curvature disposed thereon, said at least one spherical weight engaging said arcuate groove at said operating position electrically coupling said at least one conductive terminal to said conductive housing, thereby completing said electric circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electric tilt switch for opening or closing an electric circuit in accordance with the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:
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a cavity formed within a housing means, said cavity enclosing an atmosphere that is inert to conductive materials; at least one spherical weight having a predetermined radius of curvature and being freely movable within said cavity, said at least one spherical weight moving to an operating position within said cavity when said at least one weight is biased by gravity to said operating position by the angle of inclination of said housing means; and a plurality of parallel conductive pins positioned at said operating position within said cavity, each of said conductive pins terminating along a common arcuate curve, wherein said arcuate curve has a radius of curvature generally equivalent to said predetermined radius of curvature of said at least one spherical weight, said at least one spherical weight contacting and electrically coupling each of said plurality of parallel conductive pins along said arcate curve completing closing said electric circuit, when said at least one spherical weight is at said operating position - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electric tilt switch for opening or closing an electric circuit in accordance with the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:
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a housing having a cavity disposed therein, said cavity enclosing an atmosphere that is inert to conductive materials; a plurality of parallel conductive rails positioned within said cavity and symmetrically disposed around a central axis, thereby encircling a defined area; an insulated region within said cavity; and at least one conductive sphere freely movable within said cavity between said insulated region and said conductive rails, said conductive sphere rolling from said insulated region into said defined area, contacting at least two of said conductive rails and completing said electric circuit, as said housing is inclined beyond a predetermined angle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A tilt switch for opening or closing an electric circuit in accordance with the angle of inclination of said switch, comprising:
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a housing having a cavity disposed therein; at least one conductive sphere being freely movable within said cavity, said at least one conductive sphere moving to an operating position within said cavity when said at least one conductive sphere is biased by gravity to said operating position by the angle of inclination of said housing; a plurality of flexible conductive connectors extending within said cavity proximate said operating position, said flexible conductive connectors being symmetrically disposed around a central axis, thereby encircling a defined area, wherein as said at least one conductive sphere rolls within said defined area, said at least one conductive sphere contacts and deforms one of said flexible conductive connectors which resists the advancement of said at least one conductive sphere into said defined area, said at least one conductive sphere advancing within said defined area and contacting at least two of said flexible conductive connectors completing said electric circuit as said housing is inclined in excess of a predetermined angle. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification