US3582578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coordinate selector switch with tape indicator and cover
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1969-02-28
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An selector switch is disclosed which features conductive strips mounted on interior surfaces of spaced insulating boards. The strips are oriented in crossing relationship and a contact spring is slidably mounted between the boards so as to selectively contact a pair of crossing strips to provide an interconnection. The top board includes slots which define contact spring travel and allow a spring mounting element to extend above the top board for manipulation. A thin plastic grid is mounted over the lower board which serves a dual function by preventing conductive material of the strips thereon from being smeared to create a short between strips and also by providing an indexing action for each contact spring. The spring mounting elements are connected to thin flexible plastic tapes which follow the mounting elements in movement and cover the guide slots to minimize entry of foreign particles. Numerals printed on the tape are displayed through a window in the top board to provide symbolic indication of spring contact position.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Larue Lockard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/36; H01H1/40; H01H1/403; H01H15/00; H01H15/02; H01H15/06; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/20; H02B1/207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A switch assembly comprising first and second insulating boards each having a plurality of separate conductive paths on a surface thereof, one of said boards having a series of slots disposed between the conductive paths on such board and the other of said boards having a thin sheet of plastic material containing an array of apertures arranged in rows corresponding with the conductive paths on such board and in columns corresponding to the spacing between the said slots on the other of said boards, means securing said boards into an assembly with the slots and the conductive paths of said one board running generally crosswise to the conductive paths of the other board, a plurality of slide elements mounted in said assembly with a portion thereof extended through a slot to facilitate movement of said element, a further portion of said element fitted between said boards and containing a contact spring means having contact surfaces biased toward the conductive surfaces of two boards whereby movement of a given element in a given slot causes said spring means to wipe continuously along the conductive path of the said one board containing the slots and to wipe intermittedly over the separate conductive paths on the other board with said thin plastic sheet serving to preclude continuous contact with the upper surface of said other board to avoid wiping of the conductive material thereacross to short out said conductive paths of said other board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A switch assembly comprising first and second insulating boards each having a plurality of separate conductive paths on a surface thereof, one of said boards having a series of slots disposed between the conductive paths on such board and the other of said boards having a thin sheet of plastic material containing an array of apertures arranged in rows corresponding with the conductive paths on such board and in columns corresponding to the spacing between the said slots on the other of said boards, means securing said boards into an assembly with the slots and the conductive paths of said one board running generally crosswise to the conductive paths of the other board, a plurality of slide elements mounted in said assembly with a portion thereof extended through a slot to facilitate movement of said element, a further portion of said element fitted between said boards and containing a contact spring means having contact surfaces biased toward the conductive surfaces of two boards whereby movement of a given element in a given slot causes said spring means to wipe continuously along the conductive path of the said one board containing the slots and to wipe intermittedly over the separate conductive paths on the other board with said thin plastic sheet serving to preclude continuous contact with the upper surface of said other board to avoid wiping of the conductive material thereacross to short out said conductive paths of said other board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said slide elements includes an insulating detent positioned to engage the apertures of said thin sheet to facilitate indexing movement of said element in said assembly and positioning of said contact surface on a given conductive path exposed by said aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein said detent means is of a width approximating the width of the apertures in said sheet and is located relative to said contact surface to position said contact surface toward the center of the conductive path of the lower board when said element is moved to effect a given interconnection between the conductive paths on said one board and said other board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein there is included a thin flexible tape member attached at one end of each slide element and there is provided means at one end of saiD assembly for spring loading said tape member in a sense to reel said tape member as said slide element is moved toward said means, the said tape member including indicia representative of the position of said slide element and there being provided in the upper board of said assembly an aperture for displaying said indicia as said slide element is moved and as said tape member is drawn past said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein there is provided for each slide element a thin, stiffly flexible tape member joined to said slide element to be moved thereby, means at each end of said assembly for receiving and coiling said tape member as said slide element is moved in a given slot, the said tape member having a width and being positioned relative to a slide element associated with a given slot to cover said slot, notwithstanding movement of said slide element therealong.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The assembly of claim 5 wherein the upper board of said assembly includes at least an aperture associated with at least certain of said slots and said tape member includes indicia thereon whereby movement of said slide element effects a display of said indicia through said aperture as an indication of slide element position and associated interconnection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
A coordinate switch including first and second insulating boards having first and second planar conductive paths on surfaces thereof and means to hold said boards with said conductive paths spaced apart and oriented in a crossing relationship, one of said boards including slots and slide elements disposed in said slots, the other of said boards having a thin plastic sheet apertured to define a gridlike surface with the apertures aligned with the conductive paths on said other board, each said slide element including a plastic detent cooperating with the sheet apertures to index the slide element in movement along a slot, each slide element further including a contact spring biased toward said conductive surfaces to interconnect selected paths at a given coordinate, the said gridlike surface serving to prevent smearing between conductive paths intersected by element movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
A coordinate switch including first and second insulating boards having first and second planar conductive paths on surfaces thereof and means to hold said boards with said conductive paths spaced apart and oriented in a crossing relationship, one of said boards including slots and slide elements disposed in said slots, the other of said boards having a thin plastic sheet apertured to define a gridlike surface with the apertures aligned with the conductive paths on said other board, each said slide element including a plastic detent cooperating with the sheet apertures to index the slide element in movement along a slot, each slide element further including a contact spring biased toward said conductive surfaces to interconnect selected paths at a given coordinate, the said gridlike surface serving to prevent smearing between conductive paths intersected by element movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A slide switch having insulating boards with conductive paths thereon, one board having slots therein with a slide switch element fitted in each said slot carrying means to interconnect the conductive paths of the said boards, a tape means attached to said slide switch element and extending from each end thereof to cover the slot in which the element is fitted, means at each end of said stitch to receive and roll the said tape means as a given slide switch element is displaced along a given slot whereby to cover the said slots of the said switch notwithstanding slide switch element movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A slide switch having insulating boards with conductive paths thereon, one board having slots therein with a slide switch element fitted in each said slot carrying means to interconnect the conductive paths of the said boards, a tape means attached to said slide switch element and extending from each end thereof to cover the slot in which the element is fitted, means at each end of said stitch to receive and roll the said tape means as a given slide switch element is displaced along a given slot whereby to cover the said slots of the said switch notwithstanding slide switch element movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A switch assembly including at least one insulating structure have a plurality of conductive paths on at least a surface thereof, a spring contact mounted on said assembly and biased to engage said path, means to move said contact to wipe over said surface, a plastic insulating sheet positioned between said spring contact and said surface, said sheet including apertures therein serving to provide a detent action for spring contact movement to effect contact with selective paths and to preclude smearing of conductive material between said conductive paths as wiped by the spring contact.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A switch assembly including at least one insulating structure have a plurality of conductive paths on at least a surface thereof, a spring contact mounted on said assembly and biased to engage said path, means to move said contact to wipe over said surface, a plastic insulating sheet positioned between said spring contact and said surface, said sheet including apertures therein serving to provide a detent action for spring contact movement to effect contact with selective paths and to preclude smearing of conductive material between said conductive paths as wiped by the spring contact.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |