Multistable mechanical switching device

• US 6,343,788 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Lamar Rosenberg, Daniel Bruce Rosenberg
• Original Assignee: Bruce Lamar Rosenberg, Daniel Bruce Rosenberg
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Bruce Lamar, Rosenberg, Daniel Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/371,756
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 273/153.R, 273/153.S, 273/157.R, 409/05, 401/131, 401/49, 206/214, 473/594, 220/735, 229/87.01, 229/87.03, 229/87.13
• US Class Current: 273/153.00S
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/02 having an effect on the human senses
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/122 Closed loop
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/124 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/12 Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/32 Games with a collection of long sticks, e.g. pick-up sticks A63F9/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/06 for physics

Abstract

This invention is a multistable mechanical switching device. It is a bundle of rods surrounded by elastic, which when manipulated can be made to change from one stable close-packed state to another, causing a sudden rearrangement of the rods within the bundle, and producing a snapping noise or click which can be heard and felt with the fingers, interesting visual effects due to the rearrangement of the rods, and various switching and signaling effects. Possible applications of this invention are electrical switches, electronic logic, locks, medical devices, amusement devices, puzzles, science education, toys, executive pacifiers, hand exercisers, and physics and materials science demonstrations.

Claims

1. A multi-stable mechanical switching device comprising a plurality of elongated elements of substantially uniform hexagonal cross-section held in a tight bundle by an inward, centrally acting containing member such that appropriate pressure on the sides of the bundle causes transverse shearing of the bundle and rearrangement of the elements;

further wherein interactive components are variously contained within selected elements to provide signaling effects when the act of rearrangement causes selected elements to come into contact with other selected elements activating the interactive components of the selected elements in mutual contact and producing signaling effects depending upon the predetermined interactive properties of the selected elements in mutual contact.

2. The multi-stable mechanical switching device of claim 1 wherein the interactive components in the selected elements variously comprising electrically conducting contacts spaced along the length of the elements, a power source, interconnecting wires, and a signaling device;

such that the act of rearrangement causes the electrically conducting contacts of selected elements to come in mutual contact with other contacts of other selected elements to conduct electrical current through interconnecting wires to the signaling devices of the selected elements in mutual contact to produce various signaling effects depending upon the predetermined interactive properties of the selected elements in mutual contact.

3. A multi-stable mechanical switching device comprising a plurality of elongated elements held in a tight bundle by an inward, centrally-acting containing member such that appropriate pressure on the sides of the bundle causes transverse shearing of the bundle and rearrangement of the elements;

further wherein the interactive components contained within selected elements variously comprising electrically conducting contacts spaced along the length of the elements, a power source, interconnecting wires, and a signaling device;

such that the act of rearrangement causes the electrically conducting contacts to come in mutual contact with other contacts of other selected elements to conduct electrical current through interconnecting wires to the signaling devices of the selected elements in mutual contact to produce various signaling effects.

4. A multi-stable mechanical switching device comprising a plurality of substantially identically-shaped, hexagonal rods held in a tight bundle by an inward, centrally acting means such that appropriate pressure on the sides of the bundle causes transverse shearing of the bundle and relative movement among the elements;

further wherein interactive electrical components variously comprising electrically conducting contacts spaced along the length of the elements, a power source, interconnecting wires, and a signaling device;

are contained within selected elements to provide different signaling effects when the relative movement of the elements causes the electrically conducting contacts of selected elements to come in mutual contact with other contacts of other selected elements to conduct electrical current through interconnecting wires to the signaling devices of the selected elements in mutual contact to produce various signaling effects depending upon the predetermined interactive properties of the selected elements in mutual contact.