Electrical switch and method of adjusting the same

Claim 2

A switch assembly comprising: a first switchblade having a contact adapted thereon; a second switchblade having thereon a contact adapted to engage said contact on said first switchblade; driving means engaging said second switchblade upon actuation thereof for causing relative motion between said switchblades to produce engagement of said contacts; a divider element located between said switchblades; and adjustment means engaging said switchblades and adapted to independently vary the tension of said switchblades in a continuous fashion to determine the force that must be supplied to said second switchblade by said driving means to cause engagement of said contacts and to determine the opposing force provided by said first switchblade upon engagement of said contacts.

Claim 3

A switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment means comprises: a first adjusting member engaging said first switchblade and adapted to tense said first switchblade so that it bears against the free end of said divider element with a predetermined amount of force; and a second adjusting member engaging said second switchblade and adapted to position said second switchblade a given distance from said first switchblade so that a predetermined amount of force must be supplied by said driving means in order to move said contact on said second switchblade into engagement with said contact on said first switchblade.

Claim 4

A switch assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said driving means comprises a pivoted lever adapted upon actuation to engage the free end of said second switchblade.

Claim 5

A switch assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second adjusting members each comprises a setscrew abutting a respective one of said first and second switchblades adjacent a fixed end thereof.

Claim 6

A switch assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said second switch blade has a contact-carrying portion bent at an angle to a fixed end portion; and said second adjusting setscrew abuts said fixed end portion to adjust the position of said contact-carrying portion without flexing said contact-carrying portion.

Claim 7

A switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said divider element extends parallel to said switchblades and has a free end thereof formed in a cylindrical shape against which said first switchblade normally bears without engaging the rest of said divider element.

Claim 8

A switch assembly for use in a coin-actuated mechanism comprising: a first flexible conductive switchblade rigidly secured at one end and having a contact thereon adjacent the free end thereof; a second flexible conductive switchblade rigidly secured at one end and having a contact thereon adjacent the free end thereof, said contact adapted to engage said contact on said first switchblade; an insulating divider element located between said switchblades and spaced apart from both of said switchblades throughout the major portion of its length, said divider element extending parallel to said switchblades and terminating in a cylindrically shaped free end prior to reaching said contacts; a first adjusting screw abutting said first switchblade adjacent the secured end thereof in order to position said first switchblade so that it bears against said cylindrically shaped free end of said divider element with a predetermined force; a second adjusting screw abutting said second switchblade adjacent the secured end thereof in order to position said contact on said second switchblade a given distance from said contact on said first switchblade; and a pivoted lever with one end thereof engaging the free end of said second switchblade beyond said contact thereon, the other end of said pivoted lever adapted to receive a coin having a weight such that said pivoted lever will exert a force against said second switchblade sufficient to cause engagement of said contacts.

Claim 9

A switch assembly for use in a coin-actuated mechanism comprising: a first flexible conductive switchblade rigidly secured at one end and having a contact thereon adjacent the free end thereof; a second flexible conductive switchblade rigidly secured at one end and having a contact thereon adjacent the free end thereof, said contact adapted to engage said contact on said first switchblade; an insulating divider element located between said switchblades and spaced apart from both of said switchblades throughout the major portion of its length, said divider element extending parallel to said switchblades and terminating in a cylindrically shaped free end prior to reaching said contacts; a first adjusting screw abutting said first switchblade adjacent the secured end thereof in order to position said first switchblade so that it bears against said cylindrically shaped free end of said divider element with a predetermined force; a second adjusting screw abutting said second switchblade adjacent the secured end thereof in order to position said contact on said second switchblade a given distance from said contact on said first switchblade; and a pivoted lever with one end thereof engaging the free end of said second switchblade beyond said contact thereon, the other end of said pivoted lever adapted to receive a coin having a weight such that said pivoted lever will exert a force against said second switchblade sufficient to cause engagement of said contacts.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first and second test forces are provided by respective weights mounted on a pivoted lever.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first and second adjustable forces are provided by setscrews mounted adjacent and adapted to adjust the tension of said first and second switchblades, respectively.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 8 and further comprising: attaching a conductor to said divider element; and connecting an electrical source and an electrical indicator between said conductor and said first switchblade prior to applying said first test force to said first switchblade, whereby said indicator is energized when said second force moves said first switchblade into contact with said conductor.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 8 and further comprising electrically connecting an electrical source and an electrical indicator between said first switchblade and said second switchblade prior to applying said second test force to said second switchblade, whereby said electrical indicator is energized when said fourth force is of sufficient magnitude to move said second switchblade into contact with said first switchblade.