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Electrical switch with multiple switching ways

  • US 7,297,883 B2
  • Filed: 11/18/2005
  • Issued: 11/20/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Electrical switch (20) with multiple switching ways comprising an insulating bottom support (22) that forms a housing (24) with a generally vertical main axis (A), a plurality of electrical contacts lying on said insulating bottom support (22) including at least one common electrical contact (30a) and a plurality of selectable electrical contacts (30b, 30c, 30d), a top actuation member (26) that is mounted to be movable relative to the insulating bottom support (22) from a central rest position, in which it is generally coaxial with the vertical main axis (A) and into which it is elastically returned, to one or other of at least four main actuating positions distributed angularly at 90°

  • about the vertical main axis (A), a contact plate (28) made of an electrically conductive material which extends generally horizontally between the bottom support and the actuation member (26) and which comprises four main contact blades (34) distributed angularly at 90°

    about the vertical main axis, each of which is capable of coming selectively into contact with a selected one of said selectable electrical contacts (30b), when the actuation member (26) is in an associated main actuation position, to establish an electrical switching way between the selected selectable electrical contact (30b) and said common fixed contact (30a), each of said main contact blades (34) extending generally radially towards an outside of the contact plate (28), relative to the vertical main axis, wherein;

    the actuation member (26) is also mounted to be movable relative to the bottom support (22) from the central rest position to one or other of four intermediate actuation positions that are distributed angularly at 90°

    around the vertical main axis (A) of the switch (20) and that are offset angularly at 45°

    relative to the main actuation positions;

    when the actuation member (26) is in one of the intermediate actuation positions, the two main contact blades (34) that are associated with the main actuation positions and that are situated on either side of said one of the intermediate actuation positions are simultaneously in contact with the associated main fixed contacts (30b);

    said support comprises a bearing element (40) that is associated with each contact blade and that protrudes upwards relative to the bottom (32) of the housing (24), with a free radial end (34a) of an associated main contact blade (34) interacting with a bearing element (40) to elastically return the contact plate (28) and the actuation member (26) towards the intermediate rest position.

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