US3582583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coded switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-12-15
•
Granted: 1971-06-01
•
Expires: 1989-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A coded switch unit is provided with code setting means adjustable between two positions and a plurality of pushbutton actuated operating means also adjustable between two positions and cooperating with contact means in such a manner that depending upon the adjusted position of the code setting means and the operating means, closing of a circuit connected to the switch will require actuation of operating means set in one position, whereas actuation of any operating means set in the other position will prevent closing of the circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Paterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/72; H01H13/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
468 words
A coded switch unit comprising, in combination, support means; at least two code-setting means and a plurality of operating means arranged in two groups respectively coordinated with the two code-setting means, each of said code-setting means being mounted on said support means adjustable between a contacting position and a noncontacting position and each of said operating means being mounted on said support means adjustable between a contact-making and a contact-breaking position and movable between a rest position and an active position; means cooperating with each of said operating means for yieldably holding the same in said operating position, when moved from said rest position to said operating position; and contact means mounted on said support means and including stationary contact means and a pair of contact members in circuit with a load device to be operated by said switch and movable between a first and a second position and respectively coordinated with said two codesetting means and said two groups of operating means and cooperating therewith in such a manner so that when one of said code-setting means is in said contact position it will establish contact between said stationary contact means and the respective contact member when the latter is in said first position, while any operating means of the group coordinated with said one codesetting means, when set in said contact-breaking position and when moved to said active position will move the respective contact member to said second position to thereby break the contact established by said one code-setting means between said stationary contact means and the respective contact members and so that when the other code-setting means is in said noncontacting position, at least one of the operating means of the group coordinated with said other code-setting means has to be set in said contact-making position to establish, when moved to said operating position, contact between said stationary contact means and the other movable contact member when the latter is in said first position, while any other operating means in said other group, when set to said contact-breaking position, and when moved to its active position, will move the other of said contact members to said second position to thereby break the contact established by the operating means set in said contactmaking position between said stationary contact means and said other contact member, whereby when one of said code-setting means is set in said contacting position and the other in said noncontacting position at least one operating means of the group coordinated with said other code-setting means has to be set in said contact-making position and be moved from said rest to said active position to close the circuit, while any other operating means of either group when set in said contact-breaking position and moved to said active position will prevent closing of said circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
468 words
A coded switch unit comprising, in combination, support means; at least two code-setting means and a plurality of operating means arranged in two groups respectively coordinated with the two code-setting means, each of said code-setting means being mounted on said support means adjustable between a contacting position and a noncontacting position and each of said operating means being mounted on said support means adjustable between a contact-making and a contact-breaking position and movable between a rest position and an active position; means cooperating with each of said operating means for yieldably holding the same in said operating position, when moved from said rest position to said operating position; and contact means mounted on said support means and including stationary contact means and a pair of contact members in circuit with a load device to be operated by said switch and movable between a first and a second position and respectively coordinated with said two codesetting means and said two groups of operating means and cooperating therewith in such a manner so that when one of said code-setting means is in said contact position it will establish contact between said stationary contact means and the respective contact member when the latter is in said first position, while any operating means of the group coordinated with said one codesetting means, when set in said contact-breaking position and when moved to said active position will move the respective contact member to said second position to thereby break the contact established by said one code-setting means between said stationary contact means and the respective contact members and so that when the other code-setting means is in said noncontacting position, at least one of the operating means of the group coordinated with said other code-setting means has to be set in said contact-making position to establish, when moved to said operating position, contact between said stationary contact means and the other movable contact member when the latter is in said first position, while any other operating means in said other group, when set to said contact-breaking position, and when moved to its active position, will move the other of said contact members to said second position to thereby break the contact established by the operating means set in said contactmaking position between said stationary contact means and said other contact member, whereby when one of said code-setting means is set in said contacting position and the other in said noncontacting position at least one operating means of the group coordinated with said other code-setting means has to be set in said contact-making position and be moved from said rest to said active position to close the circuit, while any other operating means of either group when set in said contact-breaking position and moved to said active position will prevent closing of said circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 1, wherein two coded switch units are mounted on a common support means, and wherein one movable contact member of one unit is connected in series with one movable contact member of the other unit, the other movable contact member of one unit being connected in circuit with said device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 1, and including housing means covering said code-setting means, said operating means and said contact means, and moving means having operating portions outside said housing and being mounted in the latter between an extended and a depressed position to cooperate with said operating means to move the latter from said rest to said active position when the respective moving means is moved to its depressed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 3, and including restoring means movable between a first and a second position and cooperating during its movement from said first to said second positiOn with the operating means which have not been moved to the active position thereof by said moving means to move said operating means also to said active position and to thereby cause movement of all of said moving means to said depressed position and for moving during the movement of the restoring means from said second to said first position all of the operating means to said rest position and all of said moving means to said extended position, and relay means for maintaining the circuit, when closed by said operating means, in closed condition while all of said operating means are moved by said restoring means to said active position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating means are mounted on said support means movable in substantially vertical direction from an upper rest position to a lower active position, and wherein said movable contact members are mounted in said support means in such a manner that portions thereof cooperating with said code-setting means and said operating means are in said first position of said members at a higher elevation than in the second position, and including biasing means cooperating with said movable contact members for yieldably holding the latter in said first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 5, wherein said stationary contact means comprise an elongated conductive member and wherein said movable contact members comprise a pair of substantially U-shaped members having each a pair of short arm portions pivotally mounted at one end thereof insulated from each other on said support means and an elongated connecting portion integrally connected to the other ends of said arms and extending substantially parallel to said elongated conductive member, the connecting portions of said pair of U-shaped members being respectively located at opposite sides of said stationary conductive member and spaced therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said code-setting means is formed by a first pin and each of said operating means is formed by a second pin of a different configuration than said first pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said pins is adjustably mounted on said support means in two through-90*-displaced positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
266 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said pins is formed from insulating material, wherein each of the first pins forming said code-setting means is provided at the bottom end thereof facing said contact means with a contact portion of conductive material arranged in such a manner that said contact portion engages only said connecting portion of said movable contact member when said first pin is in said noncontacting position and so that said contact portion makes contact between said stationary contact member and the connecting portion of the respectively movable contact member when said first pin is in said contact position, and wherein each of said second pins forming said operating means is provided at the bottom end thereof facing said contact means with a contact ring of conductive material arranged to make contact with said stationary contact member and the connecting portion of the respective movable contact member, when the latter is in said first position and the respective second pin is set in said contact making position and moved from its rest to its active position, and each of said second pins is provided at the bottom face thereof with a downwardly extending projection of insulating material extending beyond the bottom face of said contact ring and arranged in such a manner so that, when the respective second pin is set in its contact-breaking position and is moved from said rest to said active position, said projection will engage the connecting portion of the respective movable contact member to move the latter from its first to its second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 9, wherein said support means comprises base means of insulating material on Which said contact means are mounted and a plate upwardly spaced from said base means and formed with a plurality of openings in which said first pins are mounted adjustable between said contacting and said noncontacting positions and in which said second pins are mounted adjustable between said contact-making and said contact-breaking positions and movable between said rest and said active position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 10, and including cooperating means on said plate and said pins for maintaining the latter in respective adjusted positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said openings for said second pins is of substantially circular cross section and provided with four radially outwardly extending cutouts displaced through 90* from each other and including leaf-spring means fastened to each of said second pins and having outwardly spread arms located in diametrically opposite cutouts for maintaining said second pins in the respective adjusted position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said openings for said first pins is of substantially circular cross section and provided with two radially outwardly extending cutouts displaced through 90* from each other and including leaf-spring means fastened to each of said first pins and having at least one outwardly spread arm located in one of said cutouts for maintaining said first pins in the respective adjusted position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 12. wherein said means for yieldably holding each of said operating means in said active position are constituted by outwardly bulging portions on said spring arms abutting against the bottom face of said plate when said second pins are moved to said active position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 14. wherein said plate is connected to said base means movable between an upper position and a lower position in which said plate is closer to said base means than in said upper position and in which said outwardly bulging portions on said spring arms are located in compressed condition in said cutouts so that by moving said plate from said upper said lower and back to said upper position, any of said second pins which have been moved to the active position will be moved back to the rest position, and biasing means cooperating with said plate for yieldably maintaining the same in said upper position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 15, and including means connected to said plate for moving the latter against said biasing means from said upper to said lower position, each of said operating means having an enlarged diameter portion located beneath said plate so that all of said operating means are moved to said active position during movement of said plate to said lower position, and including normally open switch means in said circuit which are moved to a closed position during movement of said plate to said lower position and holding relay means in said circuit cooperating with said switch means for maintaining said circuit, when closed by said operating means, in closed condition, when all of said operating means are moved by said plate to said active position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 16, and including a housing removably connected to said base means and having a top wall extending substantially parallel to said plate upwardly spaced from the upper ends of said pins and a plurality of pushbuttons slidably guided in openings of said top wall for movement between an extended and a depressed position and being respectively aligned with said second pins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for moving said plate from said upper to said lower position comprises a pin member extending through an opening in said top wall of said housing and an aligned opening in said plate so as to be movable in substantially vertical direction and resiliently compressible means between said pin member and said plate for moviNg the latter to said lower position during downward movement of said pin member, said normally open switch means being connected to the lower end of said pin member to be moved to the closed position before said plate is moved to its lower position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 18, wherein said pin member is also turnable about its axes and including cooperating means on said pin member and on said top wall of said housing for maintaining said pin member after depression and turning about its axis in the depressed position and said normally open switch in closed position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coded switch as defined in claim 19, and including locking means for locking said housing to said base means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |