Switching device with improved tablet actuator means

Claim 2

A switching device of a tablet type comprising a base (11) having a plurality of projections (14), an axis (15) penetrating through said projections (14) and secured thereby, a plurality of tablets mounted on said base (11) in parallel relationship with each other and each having bores (17) formed in opposing sidewalls thereof and at least one boss (18) formed on the outer surface thereof in coaxial relation with said bores to provide a spacing between two adjacent tablets, operation plates each projecting integrally from the lower surface of each said tablet, and a contract means (13) including spring plates having contacts formed thereon, said contacts being switched by each of said operation plates.

Claim 3

A switching device of a tablet type comprising a base, a tablet pivotally mounted on said base, an actuator projecting from said tablet, a frame of electrically insulating material having a rectangular hollow columnar configuration with open ends and opposite sidewalls, said sidewalls having, respectively, pairs of groups of slits perforated therein which slits are formed into elongated shapes each extending horizontally and are arranged vertically with respect to each group, a cover having a plate member closing one of said open ends and an internally-threaded hollow cylindrical member disposed substantially on the central part of said plate member, a pair of groups of spring contact plate members operated by said actuator and inserted in said groups of slits in a manner to bridge said opposite sidewalls, the portions of said spring contact plate members which are positioned in said hollow frame being cut off at both side edges thereof to form narrow portions so that a substantially circular opening is formed between said pair of groups of spring contact plate members, the hollow cylindrical member being inserted in said substantially circular opening, a cover plate covering said frame, and two bolts threadably engaged with said internally-threaded hollow cylindrical member, one of said bolts securing the frame to the base and the other of said bolts securing the cover plate to the frame.

Claim 4

A switching device of a tablet type comprising a base, a tablet pivotally mounted on said base, an actuator projecting from said tablet, a frame of electrically insulating material having a rectangular hollow columnar configuration with open ends and opposite sidewalls, said sidewalls having, respectively, pairs of groups of slits perforated therein which slits are formed into elongated shapes each extending horizontally and are arranged vertically with respect to each group, a cover having a plate member closing one of said open ends and an internally-threaded hollow cylindrical member disposed substantially on the central part of said plate member, a pair of groups of spring contact plate members operated by said actuator and inserted in said groups of slits in a manner to bridge said opposite sidewalls, the portions of said spring contact plate members which are positioned in said hollow frame being cut off at both side edges thereof to form narrow portions so that a substantially circular opening is formed between said pair of groups of spring contact plate members, the hollow cylindrical member being inserted in said substantially circular opening, a cover plate covering said frame, and two bolts threadably engaged with said internally-threaded hollow cylindrical member, one of said bolts securing the frame to the base and the other of said bolts securing the cover plate to the frame.

Claim 5

A switch device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said open end closed by said plate member has recesses formed therein, and said plate member has projections formed integrally thereof, said projections engaging said recesses.

Claim 6

The switching device as claimed in claim 2, in which said contact means comprises a supporting frame (25) having a closed cross section and including a plurality of pairs of slits (28) formed in two opposing sidewalls thereof, a plurality of groups of spring plates corresponding in number to said tablets, each group including a pair of stationary spring plates (29) and a movable spring plate (30), which respectively penetrate through corresponding pairs of slits in a manner to bridge said opposing sidewalls of said supporting frame.

Claim 7

The switching device as claimed in claim 4, in which both of said stationary spring plates and said movable spring plates are disposed in parallel with said supporting frame and have narrow portions (29a), (30a) formed at side edges thereof within said supporting frame, said narrow portions defining openings between two adjacent groups of slits, and further comprising cylindrical members each inserted into each of said openings, whereby the spring plates are prevented from slipping out of position from said sUpporting frame.

Claim 8

A switching device comprising a horizontal base (11), a tubular mounting member (25) having one end disposed toward the underside of said base, two pairs of elongate laterally positioned contact carrying spring blades (29) extending along and beneath said base, said spring blades of each pair being in broadside overlying spaced relation to each other and extending through and mounted on said tubular mounting member, a pair of elongate resilient contact carrying switch blades (30) respectively interposed between said pairs of spring blades in broadside elongate relationship thereto and extending through and mounted on said mounting member, said switching blades biased into engagement respectively with the contacts carried by corresponding ones of said pairs of spring blades and flexible to overcome the bias and engage contacts carried respectively by corresponding other ones of said pair of spring blades, and a stop member (33b) extending between and in abutment with said two pairs of spring blades and said switching blades to hold said blades against longitudinal movement.

Claim 9

A switching device comprising a horizontal base (11), a tubular mounting member (25) having one end disposed toward the underside of said base, two pairs of elongate laterally positioned contact carrying spring blades (29) extending along and beneath said base, said spring blades of each pair being in broadside overlying spaced relation to each other and extending through and mounted on said tubular mounting member, a pair of elongate resilient contact carrying switch blades (30) respectively interposed between said pairs of spring blades in broadside elongate relationship thereto and extending through and mounted on said mounting member, said switching blades biased into engagement respectively with the contacts carried by corresponding ones of said pairs of spring blades and flexible to overcome the bias and engage contacts carried respectively by corresponding other ones of said pair of spring blades, and a stop member (33b) extending between and in abutment with said two pairs of spring blades and said switching blades to hold said blades against longitudinal movement.

Claim 10

A switching device as defined by claim 6, wherein said stop member (33b) is disposed within said tubular mounting member (25).

Claim 11

A switching device as defined by claim 7, wherein said stop member (33b) is a pin extending axially transverse to the broadsides of said blades in engagement with recesses in the edges of said blades.

Claim 12

A switching device as defined by claim 6 with the addition of a cover member (37) overlying the lower end of said stop member (33b) and cooperable therewith and with said base (11) to enclose contact carrying portions of said blades, and means (36, 38) cooperable with said stop member (33b) to affix said stop member and said cover member to said base.