Switch with wiping contact structure

Claim 2

In a switch construction including a base, at least one stationary contact associated with said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contact, the improvement wherein said contact element comprises a rocker, a seat defined by said base for supporting the rocker and permitting pivotal movement of the rocker as well as shifting movement toward and away from said stationary contact, switchactuating means for imparting movement to the rocker, comprising a pushbutton, said means for holding said rocker in said one position and in said second position comprising resilient means associated with said pushbutton, and including a lever interposed between said rocker and said resilient means, a seat defined by said resilient means for receiving the upper end of said lever, said upper end having bearing contact with said seat with said seat pressing vertically downwardly thereon whereby the force applied by said resilient means is transmitted through said lever to said rocker, and wherein said Upper end of the lever is adapted to shift from one side of said seat to the other during a switching operation to thereby increase the horizontal pressure applied by said resilient means to said rocker when the switch is in a position of rest, means for holding said rocker against a stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from said stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, and wherein movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said first position results in engagement of the rocker with said stationary contact and substantially simultaneous shifting of the rocker for wiping of the stationary contact by the rocker.

Claim 3

A construction in accordance with claim 1 comprising a single pole-double throw switch, said rocker including oppositely directed arms for alternately engaging contacts at the opposite ends of said switch, and a third contact comprising a common pole for the switch.

Claim 4

A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rocker is formed of conductive material, a pin attached to said rocker and defining the pivot axis of the rocker, said pin also being formed of conductive material and wherein said third contact serves as a support for the pin.

Claim 5

A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein said contacts comprise bifurcated members with each of the end contacts providing two points of engagement for each rocker arm.

Claim 6

A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein said third contact is identical in structure with said end contacts and wherein the bifurcated arms of said third contact provides a seat for said pin, the distance between the arms of said third contact being greater than the diameter of said pin whereby the amount of shifting movement permitted is determined by the freedom of movement of the pin relative to said arms.

Claim 7

A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lever defines a cylindrical bottom end, an opening defined by said rocker for receiving said cylindrical end, said opening having a cross section extending beyond a semicircle whereby said cylindrical end is trapped by said rocker.

Claim 8

In a switch construction including a base, at least one stationary contact associated with said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contact, the improvement wherein said contact element comprises a rocker having at least one longitudinally extending conductive arm, a seat defined by said base for supporting the rocker, said seat comprising a conductive element transversely offset relative to said longitudinally extending arm and including a bifurcated upper end portion, and a separate bearing portion of said seat also transversely offset relative to said arm and positioned on the opposite side of said arm, a conductive pin attached to said rocker and extending transversely on either side of the rocker with one end of the pin positioned on said seat within the opening defined by the bifurcated portion of said contact element, and with the other end of the pin engaging said separate bearing portion, switch-actuating means for imparting movement to the rocker, resilient means for holding said rocker against the stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from said stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, said pin having a width less than the size of said opening to permit shifting movement of the pin within said opening, and wherein said resilient means operates to apply longitudinal force to said rocker, whereby movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said one position results in engagement of the arm of said rocker with said stationary contact and substantially simultaneous longitudinal shifting movement of said rocker relative to said seat whereby said arm undergoes wiping engagement with said stationary contact.

Claim 9

In a switch construction including a base, at least one stationary contact associated with said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contact, the improvement wherein said contact element comprises a rocker having at least one longitudinally extending conductive arm, a seat defined by said base for supporting the rocker, said seat comprising a conductive element transversely offset relative to said longitudinally extending arm and including a bifurcated upper end portion, and a separate bearing portion of said seat also transversely offset relative to said arm and positioned on the opposite side of said arm, a conductive pin attached to said rocker and extending transversely on either side of the rocker with one end of the pin positioned on said seat within the opening defined by the bifurcated portion of said contact element, and with the other end of the pin engaging said separate bearing portion, switch-actuating means for imparting movement to the rocker, resilient means for holding said rocker against the stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from said stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, said pin having a width less than the size of said opening to permit shifting movement of the pin within said opening, and wherein said resilient means operates to apply longitudinal force to said rocker, whereby movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said one position results in engagement of the arm of said rocker with said stationary contact and substantially simultaneous longitudinal shifting movement of said rocker relative to said seat whereby said arm undergoes wiping engagement with said stationary contact.

Claim 10

In a single pole-double throw switch construction including a base, stationAry contacts in spaced positions on said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contacts, said movable contact element comprising a rocker, the improvement wherein said rocker is formed of conductive material, a pin attached to said rocker and defining the pivot axis of the rocker, said pin also being formed of conductive material, and including a third contact located between said stationary contact and serving as a seat for the pin and thereby supporting the rocker and permitting pivotal movement of the rocker as well as longitudinal shifting movement toward and away from said stationary contact, each of said contacts comprising bifurcated members with each of the end contacts providing two points of engagement for each rocker arm, said third contact being identical in structure with said end contacts and wherein the bifurcated arms of said third contact provide said seat for said pin, the distance between the arms of said third contact being greater than the thickness of said pin whereby the amount of shifting movement permitted is determined by the freedom of movement of the pin relative to said arms, said third contact being laterally offset with respect to a line extending between said stationary contacts and providing support for one end of said pin, and including a groove defined by said switch base, a bearing surface formed at one end of said groove on the side of the switch opposite said third contact for supporting the opposite end of said pin, the width of said groove in the area of said seat corresponding with the spacing between the arms of said third contact, switch-actuating means for imparting movement to the rocker, means for holding said rocker against one stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from the other stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, and wherein movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said first position results in engagement of the rocker with the one stationary contact and substantially simultaneous shifting of the rocker for wiping of the stationary contact by the rocker.

Claim 11

In a single pole-double throw switch construction including a base, stationAry contacts in spaced positions on said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contacts, said movable contact element comprising a rocker, the improvement wherein said rocker is formed of conductive material, a pin attached to said rocker and defining the pivot axis of the rocker, said pin also being formed of conductive material, and including a third contact located between said stationary contact and serving as a seat for the pin and thereby supporting the rocker and permitting pivotal movement of the rocker as well as longitudinal shifting movement toward and away from said stationary contact, each of said contacts comprising bifurcated members with each of the end contacts providing two points of engagement for each rocker arm, said third contact being identical in structure with said end contacts and wherein the bifurcated arms of said third contact provide said seat for said pin, the distance between the arms of said third contact being greater than the thickness of said pin whereby the amount of shifting movement permitted is determined by the freedom of movement of the pin relative to said arms, said third contact being laterally offset with respect to a line extending between said stationary contacts and providing support for one end of said pin, and including a groove defined by said switch base, a bearing surface formed at one end of said groove on the side of the switch opposite said third contact for supporting the opposite end of said pin, the width of said groove in the area of said seat corresponding with the spacing between the arms of said third contact, switch-actuating means for imparting movement to the rocker, means for holding said rocker against one stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from the other stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, and wherein movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said first position results in engagement of the rocker with the one stationary contact and substantially simultaneous shifting of the rocker for wiping of the stationary contact by the rocker.

Claim 12

In a switch construction including a base, at least one stationary contact associated with said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contact, the improvement wherein said contact element comprises a rocker, a seat defined by said base for supporting the rocker and permitting pivotal movement of the rocker as well as shifting movement toward and away from said stationary contact, switch-actuating means for imparting movement to the rocker comprising a push button, means for holding said rocker against a stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from said stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, said means for holding said rocker in said one position and in said second position comprising resilient means associated with said pushbutton, and including a lever interposed between said rocker and said resilient means, a seat defined by said resilient means for receiving the upper end of said lever, and wherein said upper end of the lever is adapted to shift from one side of said seat to the other during a switching operation to thereby increase the horizontal pressure applied by said resilient means to said rocker when the switch is in a position of rest, and wherein said lever defines a cylindrical bottom end, an opening defined by said rocker for receiving said cylindrical end, said opening having a cross section extending beyond a semicircle whereby said cylindrical end is trapped by said rocker, said rocker including a centrally located insert formed of insulating material, the opening for receiving said cylindrical end being defined by said insert, and wherein movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said first position results in engagement of the rocker with said stationary contact and substantially simultaneous shifting of the rocker for wiping of the stationary contact by the rocker.

Claim 13

In a switch construction including a base, at least one stationary contact associated with said base, and a contact element movable relative to said stationary contact, the improvement wherein said contact element comprises a rocker, a seat defined by said base for supporting the rocker and permitting pivotal movement of the rocker as well as shifting movement toward and away from said stationary contact, switch-actuating means for imparting movement to the rocker comprising a push button, means for holding said rocker against a stationary contact in at least one position of the rocker and for holding said rocker away from said stationary contact in a second position of the rocker, said means for holding said rocker in said one position and in said second position comprising resilient means associated with said pushbutton, and including a lever interposed between said rocker and said resilient means, a seat defined by said resilient means for receiving the upper end of said lever, and wherein said upper end of the lever is adapted to shift from one side of said seat to the other during a switching operation to thereby increase the horizontal pressure applied by said resilient means to said rocker when the switch is in a position of rest, and wherein said lever defines a cylindrical bottom end, an opening defined by said rocker for receiving said cylindrical end, said opening having a cross section extending beyond a semicircle whereby said cylindrical end is trapped by said rocker, said rocker including a centrally located insert formed of insulating material, the opening for receiving said cylindrical end being defined by said insert, and wherein movement of said rocker by said actuating means from said second position to said first position results in engagement of the rocker with said stationary contact and substantially simultaneous shifting of the rocker for wiping of the stationary contact by the rocker.