US3604878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latch mechanism for releasably engaging pushbutton caps in electrical devices
Assignee: CRITON TECHNOLOGIES A WA CORP
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Filing: 1969-05-22
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A latch mechanism is disclosed whereby pushbutton caps and the like may be releasably engaged in electrical devices having flange means on a relatively stationary member therein, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof. The mechanism includes an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocated in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, during engagement and disengagement of the cap; and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element. In addition, the mechanism includes slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land. The stop means are operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and the detent ball means is larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Amis Jr
- 👤 Maurice D Fuller
- 👤 James B Dobson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/26; H01H13/28; H01H9/00; H01H9/16; H01H9/161; H01H9/162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
In aN electrical device, a relatively stationary member having flange means thereon forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocable in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land, said stop means being operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and said detent ball means being larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
In aN electrical device, a relatively stationary member having flange means thereon forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocable in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land, said stop means being operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and said detent ball means being larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein one of the stop means has a flange thereon which abuts the adjacent side of the flange means on the member to yieldably limit the travel of the element in the direction of reciprocation corresponding to the bias on the one stop means, after the one stop means has entered the space between the land and the flange means on the member, and the detent ball means has shifted to the other side thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein the other stop means is slidably engageable in the relatively stationary member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein the relatively stationary member has a socket therein which has a circumferential lip interposed around the mouth thereof, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, and the other stop means is slidably engageable and disengageable in and from the socket as the element is reciprocated into and out of the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the stop means comprise a pair of sleeves which are slidably engaged on one another on the element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the element comprises an elongated rod having flanges on the ends thereof, and a pair of spaced circumferential grooves therein which are interposed between the flanges on the rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
The device according to claim 6 wherein the stop means comprise a pair of sleeves which are slidably engaged on one another on the rod, the inner sleeve normally abutting the flange on one end of the rod and having the flange on the other end of the rod slidably engaged therein, and there being a resilient compression element caged between the latter flange on the rod and the inner sleeve, and another resilient compression element caged between the outer sleeve and a flange on the inner sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein the inner sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots therein, and there is a pair of detent balls on the land which are slidably guided in the slots at a position adjacent one end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein the relatively stationary member has a socket therein which has a circumferential lip interposed around the mouth thereof, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, and the inner sleeve is slidably engageable and disengageable in and from the socket as the rod is reciprocated into and out of the same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the relatively stationary member has an electrical switch assembly therein, and the reciprocable element has a pushbutton cap thereon which operates the switch on reciprocation of the element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
A pushbutton cap which is relEasably engageable in an electrical device having flange means on a relatively stationary member therein, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, said cap having an elongated rod projecting therefrom which has a pair of longitudinally spaced grooves therein forming a land therebetween, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and relatively inner and outer sleeve means which are slidably engaged on one another on the rod over the grooves and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the rod, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tend to remain on the land between the grooves, but are displaceable into either of the grooves against the bias of the adjacent sleeve means when a force is applied to the detent ball means in the longitudinal direction of the rod opposed to the bias of the sleeve means, as the rod is relatively reciprocated in the opposite longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
165 words
A pushbutton cap which is relEasably engageable in an electrical device having flange means on a relatively stationary member therein, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, said cap having an elongated rod projecting therefrom which has a pair of longitudinally spaced grooves therein forming a land therebetween, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and relatively inner and outer sleeve means which are slidably engaged on one another on the rod over the grooves and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the rod, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tend to remain on the land between the grooves, but are displaceable into either of the grooves against the bias of the adjacent sleeve means when a force is applied to the detent ball means in the longitudinal direction of the rod opposed to the bias of the sleeve means, as the rod is relatively reciprocated in the opposite longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The pushbutton cap according to claim 11 wherein the inner sleeve means has a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots therein, and a pair of detent balls are slidably engaged in corresponding ends of the slots at positions opposite the land.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The pushbutton cap according to claim 11 wherein the rod has a flange on the free end thereof, and the inner sleeve means is normally abutted against the cap with the flange of the rod slidably engaged therein, there being a resilient compression element caged between the flange and the inner sleeve means, and another resilient compression element caged between the outer sleeve means and a flange on the inner sleeve means.
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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) | 1974-09-13 | 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 |