US3604868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking toggle switch
Assignee: Joseph Pollak Corp
•
Filing: 1970-07-30
•
Granted: 1971-09-14
•
Expires: 1990-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A toggle switch designed to prevent accidental actuation. The switch may be locked against operation by pushing the toggle into the body of the switch and turning it through 90*. Conversely, the toggle must be pushed and twisted through 90* to return the toggle from the locked position into the normal operating position. The mechanism by which the locking feature is obtained utilizes the toggle pivots and operating grooves normally found in toggle switches but adds a second set of grooves perpendicular to the normal operating grooves and into which the toggle pivots may be shifted. The conventional spring used for plunger pressure in a toggle switch also serves to hold the toggle pivots in either set of grooves. In an alternative embodiment, the switch may be of the double-throw type capable of being locked in any position, the toggle being captured in the same manner as in the single-throw version by being pushed into the body of the switch and turned through 90*.
Inventors
- 👤 Kent J Batcheller
- 👤 Earl Bullis Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/02; H01H3/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5611; Y10T70/569; Y10T70/573; Y10T70/5735; Y10T70/5739; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/20672; Y10T74/20678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A locking toggle switch comprising a lower housing, electrical contacts and a cooperating wiper disposed in said lower housing, second a toggle having oppositely extending pivot pins formed thereon and an end disposed in said lower housing for actuating said wiper, an upper housing, means for supporting said pivot pins in said upper housing in one plate to permit pivoting motion of said toggle and actuation of said wiper and means for supporting said pivot pins in said upper housing in a second plane normal to said one plane means disposed in said upper housing for capturing said toggle when said pivot pins are disposed in said second means to lock said toggle against pivoting motion and said wiper against actuation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A locking toggle switch comprising a lower housing, electrical contacts and a cooperating wiper disposed in said lower housing, second a toggle having oppositely extending pivot pins formed thereon and an end disposed in said lower housing for actuating said wiper, an upper housing, means for supporting said pivot pins in said upper housing in one plate to permit pivoting motion of said toggle and actuation of said wiper and means for supporting said pivot pins in said upper housing in a second plane normal to said one plane means disposed in said upper housing for capturing said toggle when said pivot pins are disposed in said second means to lock said toggle against pivoting motion and said wiper against actuation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A toggle switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said pivot pins in said one plane comprises a first set of relatively deep aligned grooves formed within said upper housing, said pivot pins being rotatable in said first set of aligned grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A toggle switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for supporting said pivot pins in a second plane to lock said toggle comprise a second set of relatively shallow aligned grooves normal to said first set of aligned grooves formed within said upper housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A toggle switch as defined in claim 3 wherein said toggle-capturing means comprises means forming an opening, said toggle including an enlarged section, said enlarged section extending into said opening when said pivot pins are disposed in said second set of aligned grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a locking toggle switch having an upper and a lower housing, a toggle, electrical contacts and a wiper disposed in said lower housing and having an end of said toggle disposed in said lower housing to actuate said wiper, the combination of a rectangular plate disposed in said upper housing and having a generally keyhole-shaped opening formed therein, the larger circular portion of said keyhole being adjacent the center of said plate and said housing, the smaller slotted portion of said keyhole-shaped opening extending longitudinally and centrally of said plate, said toggle having a plunger of diameter smaller than the width of said slot extending therethrough and contacting said wiper, said toggle having a cylindrical body surrounding said plunger and being of diameter larger than the width of said slot and smaller than the diameter of said central opening, said toggle also having a pair of pivot pins extending oppositely outward from the body thereof, said upper housing having a first set of relatively deep aligned grooves formed in a lower surface thereof to accommodate said pivot pins, said toggle body being free of said central opening when said pivot pins are disposed in said first set of aligned grooves, said upper housing also having a second set of relatively shallow aligned grooves formed in a lower surface thereof in a plane perpendicular to that of said first set of aligned grooves, said cylindrical body of said toggle extending into said central opening when said pivot pins are disposed in said second set of aligned grooves, whereby said toggle may be pivoted to actuate said wiper when said pivot pins are disposed in said first set of aligned grooves and is locked against pivoting when said pivot pins are disposed in said second set of aligned grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a locking toggle switch having an upper and a lower housing, a toggle, electrical contacts and a wiper disposed in said lower housing and having an end of said toggle disposed in said lower housing to actuate said wiper, the combination of a rectangular plate disposed in said upper housing and having a generally keyhole-shaped opening formed therein, the larger circular portion of said keyhole being adjacent the center of said plate and said housing, the smaller slotted portion of said keyhole-shaped opening extending longitudinally and centrally of said plate, said toggle having a plunger of diameter smaller than the width of said slot extending therethrough and contacting said wiper, said toggle having a cylindrical body surrounding said plunger and being of diameter larger than the width of said slot and smaller than the diameter of said central opening, said toggle also having a pair of pivot pins extending oppositely outward from the body thereof, said upper housing having a first set of relatively deep aligned grooves formed in a lower surface thereof to accommodate said pivot pins, said toggle body being free of said central opening when said pivot pins are disposed in said first set of aligned grooves, said upper housing also having a second set of relatively shallow aligned grooves formed in a lower surface thereof in a plane perpendicular to that of said first set of aligned grooves, said cylindrical body of said toggle extending into said central opening when said pivot pins are disposed in said second set of aligned grooves, whereby said toggle may be pivoted to actuate said wiper when said pivot pins are disposed in said first set of aligned grooves and is locked against pivoting when said pivot pins are disposed in said second set of aligned grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a locking toggle switch having an upper and a lower housing, a toggle, electrical contacts and a wiper disposed in said lower housing and having an end of said toggle disposed in said lower housing to actuate said wiper, the combination of a plate disposed between said upper and lower housing having a slot which includes an enlarged central opening formed therein, first means for supporting said toggle in said upper housing, an end of said toggle being disposed in and normally free to move in said slot to permit actuation of said wiper, said toggle having an enlarged section above said end, and second means displaced from said first means for supporting said toggle in said upper housing with said enlarged section captured in said enlarged central opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a locking toggle switch having an upper and a lower housing, a toggle, electrical contacts and a wiper disposed in said lower housing and having an end of said toggle disposed in said lower housing to actuate said wiper, the combination of a plate disposed between said upper and lower housing having a slot which includes an enlarged central opening formed therein, first means for supporting said toggle in said upper housing, an end of said toggle being disposed in and normally free to move in said slot to permit actuation of said wiper, said toggle having an enlarged section above said end, and second means displaced from said first means for supporting said toggle in said upper housing with said enlarged section captured in said enlarged central opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a locking toggle switch as defined in claim 6, the combination wherein said pivot means for supporting said toggle comprises relatively deep grooves in a lower surface of said upper housing, said toggle having pivot pins extending therefrom and rotatable in said grooves, said second means comprising relatively shallow grooves formed in said lower surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a locking toggle switch as defined in claim 4, the combination wherein said toggle-capturing means comprises a plate disposed in said upper housing, said plate having a plurality of openings formed therein, said openings constituting overlapping circular apertures the narrowest widths of which are narrower than said enlarged section, said openings each being of greater diameter than that of said enlarged section, whereby said toggle is immovable from any of said openings when said pivot pins are disposed in said second set of aligned grooves.
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) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |