Push-to-start switch

Claim 2

In a switch for controlling an electric circuit, a contact member in said circuit, a movably mounted second contact member in said circuit, an electromagnet, an armature supported for movement toward and away from said electromagnet, a spring directly connected with the armature normally biasing said armature toward a released position with respect to the electromagnet, a manually operable plunger supported for movement adjacent said armature, an actuator supported on said plunger for limited movement relative thereto, means between said plunger, armature and actuator for causing conjoint movement in response to initial pressure on the plunger, the actuator being positioned to also cause movement of the movable contact member into engagement with the fixed contact member to complete the electric circuit and also energize the electromagnet in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the actuator whereby the armature is magnetically moved the rest of the way toward the electromagnet independently of plunger pressure, and means between the armature and actuator for maintaining the contact members in closed condition as long as the electromagnet is energized.

Claim 3

A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which there is means between the actuator and armature for causing return movement of the actuator when the armature is released.

Claim 4

A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which there is means for returning the plunger to starting position while the armature is held by the energized electromagnet.

Claim 5

A switch as claimed in claim 3 in which there is means for returning the actuator and armature to starting position when the coil is deenergized.

Claim 6

A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the actuator is supported by the plunger for axial movement relative thereto.

Claim 7

A switch as claimed in claim 5 in which the armature has an opening, and in which the plunger and actuator extend through said opening of the armature.

Claim 8

A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the movement of the actuator which is in response to the magnetic movement of the armature is independent of movement of the plunger.

Claim 9

A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the armature has a fulcrum, and in which the plunger and actuator are mounted between the fulcrum and the electromagnet.

Claim 10

A switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the actuator is mounted for axial movement on the plunger and has an inner end beyond the inner end of the plunger for engagement with the movable contact member, in which the plunger has a lug which engages the armature when the plunger is pushed inwardly, in which there is a lug on the actuator engaged by the armature when the latter is released to cause return movement of the actuator, and in which there is a second lug on the actuator which is engaged by the armature to hold the actuator in contact-making position independently of the plunger when the armature is being held by the electromagnet.

Claim 11

A switch as claimed in claim 9 in which there is a plunger return spring positioned to be compressed upon inward movement of the plunger.

Claim 12

A switch as claimed in claim 9 in which the armature has an opening through which the plunger and actuator extend, with one of the actuator lugs engageable with one side of the armature and with the other actuator lug engageable with the other side of the armature.

Claim 13

In a switch for controlling an electric circuit, a contact member in said circuit, a movably mounted second contact member in said circuit, means for creating a magnetic field, an armature supported for movement toward and away from said magnetic field, a manually operable plunger supported for movement adjacent said armature, an actuator supported on said plunger for movement relative thereto, means between said plunger, armature and actuator for causing conjoint movement in response to initial pressure on the plunger, means between the actuator and armature for causing return movement of the armature when the armature is released, the actuator being positioned to also cause movement of the movable contact member into engagement with the fixed contact member to complete the electric circuit and, at the same time, move the armature closer to the magnetic field to cause it to be attracted thereby whereby the armature is magnetically moved an additional distance independently of plunger pressure, means between the actuator and armature for maintaining the contact members in closed condition as long as the armature is maintained in its last-mentioned position by the magnetic field, and means for controlling said magnetic field.

Claim 14

In a switch for controlling an electric circuit, a contact member in said circuit, a movably mounted second contact member in said circuit, means for creating a magnetic field, an armature supported for movement toward and away from said magnetic field, a manually operable plunger supported for movement adjacent said armature, an actuator supported on said plunger for movement relative thereto, means between said plunger, armature and actuator for causing conjoint movement in response to initial pressure on the plunger, means between the actuator and armature for causing return movement of the armature when the armature is released, the actuator being positioned to also cause movement of the movable contact member into engagement with the fixed contact member to complete the electric circuit and, at the same time, move the armature closer to the magnetic field to cause it to be attracted thereby whereby the armature is magnetically moved an additional distance independently of plunger pressure, means between the actuator and armature for maintaining the contact members in closed condition as long as the armature is maintained in its last-mentioned position by the magnetic field, and means for controlling said magnetic field.