Resilient reed type actuator mechanism

Claim 2

An actuator mechanism comprising: wall means defining an enclosed chamber; an elongated resilient reed member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion; means defining an aperture in said chamber for receiving said first end portion of said reed member therein; and locating means, operative in conjunction with said aperturedefining means and said second end portion of said reed member, for retaining the intermediate portion of said reed member between said remaining end portion and said aperture-defining means in a flexibly bowed, generally U-shaped configuration with said second end portion extending towards said first end portion, said locating means being further adapted for permitting the terminus of said second end portion to be moved longitudinally with respect to said first end portion of said reed member from a first to a second position for displacing said first end portion from a first to a second position within said chamber.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 and further including electrical contact means extending into said chamber and adapted to be selectively contacted by said one end portion of said reed member in at least one of said first and second positions.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 in which said aperture-defining means provides a fulcrum across which energy is translated to deflect said one end portion of said reed member from said first to said second position.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 and further including means for establishing an unstable condition intermediate said first and second positions to provide a toggle action in shifting said one end portion between said positions.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4 in which said locating means includes a second resilient reed member bent in a generally U-shaped configuration and having opposite end portions affixed respectively to said wall means and said remaining end portion of said first reed member for exerting a substantially equal and opposite transverse reaction force on said first reed member in movement between said first and second longitudinal positions.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5 in which said first reed member includes a segment along said U-shaped portion having a different resistance to bending stress than other segments of said U-shpaed portion for providing said toggle action.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 in which said unstable condition establishing means is effective for retaining at least a segment of said one end portion of said reed member in a bowed condition.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 7 in which said unstable condition establishing means defines a V-shaped recess in said wall means of said chamber, opposite said aperture-defining means, for seating and pivotally guiding the extremum of said one end portion of said reed member and further comprises retaining apparatus positioned adjacent said aperture-defining means for constraining said one end portion against longitudiNal movement whereby said one end portion is maintained in said bowed condition.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 8 in which said contact means are positioned in said chamber so as to be contacted by the apex of said bowed end portion in at least one of said first and second positions.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 7 in which: said one end portion of said reed is provided with a tongue segment having a free end and a secured end; and further including a member for pivotally seating said free end of said tongue so as to continually maintain said tongue in a bowed condition during shifting of said one end portion between said first and second positions for effecting said toggle action.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 4 in which: said chamber is a sealed, airtight enclosure; and said aperture-defining means provide an opening into said chamber of a knife-edge contour.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 11 in which resilient means are provided at said aperture-defining means for maintaining said chamber in a sealed condition upon shifting of said one reed end portion between said first and second positions.

Claim 14

A miniature electrical switch comprising: an elongated resilient reed member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion and further having a tongue member integrally formed with said first end portion, said tongue member having a free end and a secured end; means defining a spatially fixed fulcrum member pivotally supporting said first end portion of said reed member for angular movement between a first and second position in which said first end portion lies respectively above and below a horizontal plane through said fulcrum; means comprising a spatially fixed support member for pivotally locating said free end of said tongue member in approximately said horizontal plane, said tongue member being continually maintained in a bowed condition for exerting a force to bias said first reed end portion away from said horizontal plane toward a preselected one of said first and second positions; electrical contact means positioned to engage said first end portion in at least one of said first and second positions; and actuating means operatively connected to said second reed end portion for maintaining said intermediate portion of said reed member in a resiliently bowed, generally U-shpaed configuration with said second end portion extending towards said first end portion, said actuating means being moveable along a path generally parallel to said first reed end portion between first and second positions for displacing said first reed end portion between said first and second positions.

Claim 15

A miniature electrical switch comprising: an elongated resilient reed member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion and further having a tongue member integrally formed with said first end portion, said tongue member having a free end and a secured end; means defining a spatially fixed fulcrum member pivotally supporting said first end portion of said reed member for angular movement between a first and second position in which said first end portion lies respectively above and below a horizontal plane through said fulcrum; means comprising a spatially fixed support member for pivotally locating said free end of said tongue member in approximately said horizontal plane, said tongue member being continually maintained in a bowed condition for exerting a force to bias said first reed end portion away from said horizontal plane toward a preselected one of said first and second positions; electrical contact means positioned to engage said first end portion in at least one of said first and second positions; and actuating means operatively connected to said second reed end portion for maintaining said intermediate portion of said reed member in a resiliently bowed, generally U-shpaed configuration with said second end portion extending towards said first end portion, said actuating means being moveable along a path generally parallel to said first reed end portion between first and second positions for displacing said first reed end portion between said first and second positions.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 13 in which said fulcrum means comprises opposed knife-edge portions defining an opening for locating said reed member therebetween.

Claim 17

The combination according to claim 14 in which: said tongue segment is defined by a partially cutout portion of said reed member; and in which said pivoting means is positioned to project through said cutout portion of said reed member.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 15 in which said pivoting means is formed to define an elongated V-shaped recess with the line formed by the intersection of the legs of said V lying in said horizontal plane.

Claim 19

The combination according to claim 16 in which a transverse edge of said reed member bordering said cutout portion abuts a stop at said fulcrum means for precluding longitudinal shifting of said reed member under the influence of the potential energy stored in said bowed tongue portion.

Claim 20

The combination according to claim 17 and further including: a sealed housing for enclosing said one end portion of said reed member on one side of said fulcrum means and in which said electrical contact means projects into said housing in a position for selectively contacting said one reed end portion; and further in which said opposed knife-edGe portions of said fulcrum means and said reed member cooperate to effect sealed entry of said reed member into said housing.

Claim 21

The combination according to claim 18 in which said contact means comprises a pair of electrical contacts located at one of said first and second positions with said contacts lying in a common plane and adapted to be bridged by said one end portion of said reed member.

Claim 22

An actuator mechanism comprising: wall means having a fixedly positioned fulcrum bearing surface portion; an elongated resilient reed member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion; positioning means for maintaining said first end portion of said reed member in pivotal, but nonshiftable engagement with said fulcrum bearing surface; overcenter means operatively associated with said reed member for yieldably maintaining said first reed end portion in either of the two spaced positions; and actuating means operatively connected to said second reed end portion for maintaining said intermediate portion of said reed member in a resiliently bowed, generally U-shaped configuration with said second end portion extending toward said first end portion, said actuating means being moveable along a path generally parallel to said first reed end portion between first and second positions for coacting with said overcenter means to selectively shift said first reed end portion between said spaced portions.

Claim 23

An actuator mechanism comprising: wall means having a fixedly positioned fulcrum bearing surface portion; an elongated resilient reed member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion; positioning means for maintaining said first end portion of said reed member in pivotal, but nonshiftable engagement with said fulcrum bearing surface; overcenter means operatively associated with said reed member for yieldably maintaining said first reed end portion in either of the two spaced positions; and actuating means operatively connected to said second reed end portion for maintaining said intermediate portion of said reed member in a resiliently bowed, generally U-shaped configuration with said second end portion extending toward said first end portion, said actuating means being moveable along a path generally parallel to said first reed end portion between first and second positions for coacting with said overcenter means to selectively shift said first reed end portion between said spaced portions.

Claim 24

The combination according to claim 20 in which said overcenter means comprises: a tongue segment having one end secured to said first reed end portion and further having a free end; and a member for pivotally seating said free end of said tongue segment so as to continually maintain said tongue segment in a bowed condition for providing a biasing force to yieldably maintain said first reed end portion in either of said two spaced positions.

Claim 25

The combination according to claim 20 in which said overcenter means comprises retaining apparatus, spaced from said fulcrum-bearing surface by a predetermined distance which is shorter than the length of said first reed end portion, for seating and pivotally guiding the extremum of said first reed end portion and for cooperating with said positioning means for retaining said first end portion in a bowed condition.

Claim 26

The combination according to claim 20 in which said overcenter means is positioned on said second reed end portion side of said fulcrum-bearing surface portion.