Force switch
First Claim
1. A switch of a device having a longitudinal device axis, the switch comprising:
- a switching element having a longitudinal switching axis disposed parallel to the longitudinal device axis of the device;
a hollow body defining an interior cavity in which the switching element is movably disposed along the switching axis to define;
a switch-making position at a first longitudinal position along the switching axis; and
a switch-breaking position at a second longitudinal position along the switching axis, the second longitudinal position being different from the first longitudinal position;
a biasing element imparting a variable longitudinal bias to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element along the switching axis exceeds the longitudinal bias thereby causing the switching element to move to the other one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position; and
an electrically-conductive contact coupled to the switching element and defining;
a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position; and
a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch of a device having a longitudinal axis, and comprising a switching element parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, a hollow body defining an interior cavity in which the switching element is movably disposed to define a switch-making position at a first longitudinal position and a switch-breaking position at a second longitudinal position, a biasing element imparting a variable longitudinal bias to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element exceeds the longitudinal bias causing the switching element to move to the other of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position, and an electrically-conductive contact coupled to the switching element and defining a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position.
86 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A switch of a device having a longitudinal device axis, the switch comprising:
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a switching element having a longitudinal switching axis disposed parallel to the longitudinal device axis of the device; a hollow body defining an interior cavity in which the switching element is movably disposed along the switching axis to define; a switch-making position at a first longitudinal position along the switching axis; and a switch-breaking position at a second longitudinal position along the switching axis, the second longitudinal position being different from the first longitudinal position; a biasing element imparting a variable longitudinal bias to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element along the switching axis exceeds the longitudinal bias thereby causing the switching element to move to the other one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position; and an electrically-conductive contact coupled to the switching element and defining; a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position; and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification