Rocker-type electrical switch

• US 5,500,498 A
• Filed: 01/17/1995
• Issued: 03/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Liviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Liviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Schroeder, David, Kurek, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/373,687
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 200/553, 200/557, 200/558, 200/559, 200/339, 200/556, 200/561, 200/547, 200/548, 200/563, 200/315, 200/556
• US Class Current: 200/556
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/006 Camshaft or pushrod housings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/143 having a generally flat elongated shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/16 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/164 with rectilinearly movable member carrying the contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/62 Lubricating means structurally associated with the switch for lubricating contact-making surfaces H01H1/60

Abstract

A rocker-type electrical switch of the kind known as a "quiet switch" includes a manually depressible rocker having two opposed contact surfaces at a small angle to each other from rocker depends a rocker arm terminating in a rocker cam. A slider positioned intermediately of the rocker and the rocker cam is moved back and forth by side-to-side movements of the rocker arm and opens and closes one or more pairs of contacts. Rocker is controlled by a rocker cam leaf spring engaging the rocker cam which spring has a cammed profile traversed by the rocker cam to slow the switch, lock the rocker and provide other desirable effects. The rocker cam spring is housed in a spring chamber longer than itself, allowing the rocker cam spring to float.

Claims

1. An electrical rocker switch comprising:

a manually movable rocker cover;

actuator means including a first and second end, wherein said first end is attached to said rocker cover such that said actuator means is movable in response to movement of said rocker cover;

slider means which responds to movement induced in said actuator means by sliding in one of two opposite directions;

a fixed terminal assembly including a first fixed contact;

a movable brush assembly including a first movable electrical contact, wherein said movable brush assembly responds to said slider means movement in a first direction by forcing said first movable contact to mate with said first fixed contact of said fixed terminal assembly to electrically close said switch and wherein said movable brush assembly responds to slider means movement in a second direction by causing said first movable contact to disengage from said mated position with said first fixed contact of said fixed terminal assembly to electrically open said switch;

a cam spring positioned adjacent to and contacting said second end of said actuator means to oppose movement thereof; and

a switch base having chambers therein for housing said slider means, said cam spring, said fixed terminal assembly, and said movable brush assembly,

wherein said cam spring is substantially symmetrical about a center plane and comprises;

a) a small center well with sides which rise to a pair of apices, b) a pair of downward ramp portions joined to said well sides at said pair of apices, respectively, c) a pair of horizontal support portions joined to the ends of said pair of downwardly ramp portions remote from said apices, respectively, and a d) pair of folded under end portions joined to ends of said pair of horizontal support portions respectively.