Gravity actuated electrical switch and lamp assembly

• US 5,436,417 A
• Filed: 07/26/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADAC Plastics Incorporated (ADAC Automotive, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADAC Plastics Incorporated (ADAC Automotive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Jimmie, Dault, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US08/280,733
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45 R-61.53, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.62-61.82, 200/61.83, 200/DIG. 29, 362/71.80, 362/153-155
• US Class Current: 200/61.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/02 Switches operated by change of position, inclination or orientation of the switch itself in relation to gravitational field tilting mercury container H01H29/20; change of position due to change of liquid level H01H35/18

Abstract

A gravity actuated switch and an automotive under hood or under deck lid light assembly utilizing the switch. The switch includes a blade and a ball mounted for rolling movement along the blade in response to a change in attitude of the switch. The ball is operative in response to such rolling movement to move the blade between a first configuration in which the switch is open and a second configuration in which the switch is closed. The blade comprises a beam member formed of a spring material arranged in cantilever fashion. The spring material of the beam is electrically conductive and the beam forms a part of the electrical circuit path through the switch.

Claims

1. A gravity actuated electrical switch having an open position and a closed position characterized in that the switch includes:

a housing;

a conductor member mounted in the housing and including an input terminal end portion for connection to a source of electrical power and a large area contact plate portion;

a blade member formed of an electrically conductive spring material and having a fixed end portion fixedly mounted on the housing and a beam portion extending outwardly in cantilever fashion from the fixed end portion to define a large area free end positioned in overlying relation to the contact plate portion of the conductor member; and

a ball mounted for rolling movement along the beam portion of the blade in response to a change in attitude of the switch and operative in response to such rolling movement to resiliently move the free end of the beam portion of the blade member between a first configuration in which the ball is positioned on the beam portion at a location remote from the free end and the free end is spaced from the contact plate portion to maintain the switch open and a second configuration in which the ball has rolled along the beam portion to a position proximate the free end and the free end is resiliently deformed by the weight of the ball to assume a position against the contact plate portion to establish a large area electrical interface between the free end and the contact plate portion and thereby establish a large current flow area between the conductor member and the blade member to close the switch.

2. A switch according to claim 1 wherein:

the beam portion includes a relatively narrow blade portion extending outwardly from the fixed end in cantilever fashion and a relatively wide paddle portion defining the large area free end of the beam portion.

3. A lamp assembly including a housing, a lamp bulb mounted in the housing and a gravity actuated electrical switch mounted in the housing and having an open position in which the lamp bulb is deenergized and a closed position in which the lamp bulb is energized, characterized in that the switch includes a housing;

a conductor member mounted in the housing and including an end portion defining an input terminal for connection to a source of electrical power and a large area contact plate portion;

a blade member formed of an electrically conductive spring material and having a fixed end portion fixedly mounted on the housing and a beam portion extending outwardly in cantilever fashion from the fixed end portion to define a large area free end positioned in overlying relation to the contact plate portion of the conductor member; and

a ball mounted for rolling movement along the beam portion of the blade in response to a change in attitude of the switch and operative in response to such rolling movement to resiliently move the free end of the beam portion of the blade member between a first configuration in which the ball is positioned on the beam portion at a location remote from the free end and the free end is spaced from the contact plate portion to maintain the switch open and the lamp bulb deenergized and a second configuration in which the ball has rolled along the beam portion to a position proximate the free end and the free end is resiliently deformed by the weight of the ball to assume a position against the contact plate portion to establish a large area electrical interface between the free end and the contact plate portion and thereby establish a large current flow area between the conductor member and the blade member to close the switch and energize the lamp bulb.

4. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein:

the beam portion includes a relatively narrow blade portion extending outwardly from the fixed end in cantilever fashion and a relatively wide paddle portion defining the large area free end of the blade portion.

5. A lamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein:

the lamp assembly includes a first conductor path extending from the input terminal of the lamp assembly to a first terminal of the bulb and a second conductor path extending from another input terminal of the lamp assembly to a second terminal of the bulb; and

the beam portion forms a part of one of the conductor paths.