Trigger control switch with particular bridging and stationary contact arrangements

Claim 2

An electrical switch comprising a housing; an actuator mounted for rectilinear movement relative to said housing; at least two spaced stationary contacts mounted on said housing; an elongated bridging contact carried by said actuator for rectilinear movement therewith, for selective bridging engagement with said stationary contacts; one of said stationary contacts defining integral contact pivot means; said bridging contact being mounted on said actuator for pivotal movement relative to said contact pivot means; spring pivot means on said actuator opposing said stationary contact pivot means and continuously urging said bridging contact toward the stationary contacts; said bridging contact being movable between a nonbridging position, wherein said bridging contact is positioned relative to said pivot means to affect rotation of the contact out of engagement with the other of said stationary contacts, and the bridging position wherein said bridging contact is positioned relative to said pivot means to effect rotation of the contact into engagement with the other stationary contact, said elongated bridging contact having one end disposed for continuous sliding engagement with said contact pivot means, and having a boss at its other end for selective engagement with said other stationary contact; said housing providing a transverse insulating boss between said spaced stationary contacts; and said bridging contact being maintained out of engagement with said insulating boss in all positions thereof.

Claim 3

An electric switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to be mounted in a pistol grip handle of a control device; wherein said actuator includes an integral trigger projecting from said housing and adapted to be engaged by the finger of an operator; and means urging said actuator to an extended position wherein said bridging contact is positioned in the nonbridging position.

Claim 4

An electric switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationary contacts are disposed generally in a plane parallel to the direction of rectilinear movement; said bridging contact being confined in a recess in said actuator for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said stationary contacts; said actuator a spring pivot means comprising an elongated coil spring guided in a hole in said actuator transverse to said stationary contact plane biasing said bridging contact intermediate its ends.

Claim 5

An electric switch as defined in claim 3 wherein said pivot means further include an elongated pin guided in said hole and urged by said spring into engagement with said bridging contact intermediate its ends.

Claim 6

An electric switch as set forth in claim 1 including at least four stationary contacts mounted on said housing and disposed generally in a plane parallel to the direction of rectilinear movement; said stationary contacts comprising First and second longitudinally spaced contacts and third and fourth longitudinally spaced contacts disposed in side-by-side relation; first and second bridging contacts mounted on said actuator in side-by-side relation for rectilinear movement therewith; said first bridging contact being disposed for selective bridging engagement with said first and second stationary contacts, and said second bridging contact being disposed for selective bridging engagement with said third and fourth stationary contacts; each of said first and third stationary contact having integral pivot means engaged by said bridging contacts; members; and spring pivot means on said actuator urging each of said bridging contacts into engagement with the respective stationary contacts.

Claim 7

An electric switch as set forth in claim a including three stationary contacts mounted on said housing in longitudinally spaced relation and disposed generally in a plane parallel to the direction of rectilinear movement; said bridging contact being maintained in continuous engagement with said one contact pivot means; and said boss of said bridging contact selectively engaging one of the other two stationary contacts responsive to the amount of rectilinear movement of said bridging contact from the new bridging position.

Claim 8

An electric switch and power control comprising a housing; an actuator mounted for rectilinear movement relative to said housing; at least two spaced stationary contacts mounted on said housing; an elongated bridging contact carried by said actuator for rectilinear movement therewith; for selective bridging engagement with said stationary contacts; one of said stationary contacts defining integral contact pivot means said bridging contact being mounted on said actuator for pivotal movement relative to said contact pivot means; spring pivot means on said actuator opposing said stationary contact pivot means and continuously urging said bridging contact toward the stationary contacts; and said bridging contact being movable between a nonbridging position, wherein said bridging contact is positioned relative to said pivot means to affect rotation of the contact out of engagement with the other of said stationary contacts, and the bridging position, wherein said bridging contact is positioned relative to said pivot means to effect rotation of the contact into engagement with the other stationary contact; said elongated bridging contact having one end disposed for continuous sliding engagement with said contact pivot means, and having a boss at its other end for selective engagement with said other stationary contact; said housing providing a transverse insulating boss between said spaced stationary contacts; and said bridging contact being maintained out of engagement with said insulating boss in all positions thereof; power control circuit means including elongated resistor means mounted on said housing; a second contact movable rectilinearly with said actuator, having slide means engaging said resistor means and being movable through selective positions along said resistor means to provide a plurality of resistance values; and means electrically connecting said resistor means with one of said stationary contacts.

Claim 9

An electric switch and power control comprising a housing; an actuator mounted for rectilinear movement relative to said housing; at least two spaced stationary contacts mounted on said housing; an elongated bridging contact carried by said actuator for rectilinear movement therewith; for selective bridging engagement with said stationary contacts; one of said stationary contacts defining integral contact pivot means said bridging contact being mounted on said actuator for pivotal movement relative to said contact pivot means; spring pivot means on said actuator opposing said stationary contact pivot means and continuously urging said bridging contact toward the stationary contacts; and said bridging contact being movable between a nonbridging position, wherein said bridging contact is positioned relative to said pivot means to affect rotation of the contact out of engagement with the other of said stationary contacts, and the bridging position, wherein said bridging contact is positioned relative to said pivot means to effect rotation of the contact into engagement with the other stationary contact; said elongated bridging contact having one end disposed for continuous sliding engagement with said contact pivot means, and having a boss at its other end for selective engagement with said other stationary contact; said housing providing a transverse insulating boss between said spaced stationary contacts; and said bridging contact being maintained out of engagement with said insulating boss in all positions thereof; power control circuit means including elongated resistor means mounted on said housing; a second contact movable rectilinearly with said actuator, having slide means engaging said resistor means and being movable through selective positions along said resistor means to provide a plurality of resistance values; and means electrically connecting said resistor means with one of said stationary contacts.

Claim 10

An electronic switch and power control as set forth in claim 10 wherein said stationary contacts are disposed generally in a plane parallel to a direction of rectilinear movement; said bridging contact being confined in a recess in said actuator for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said stationary contacts; said spring pivot means comprising an elongated pin guided in a hole in said actuator transverse to said stationary contact plane and spring means urging said pivot pin into engagement with said bridging contact intermediate its ends.

Claim 11

An electric switch and power control as set forth in claim 7 including guide means on said housing for supporting and guiding the rectilinear movement oF said second movable contact; and said second movable contact and said actuator having respective coating tab and recess means for effecting the rectilinear movement of said contact with said actuator.

Claim 12

An electric switch and power control as set forth in claim 7 wherein said resistor means comprises a pair of elongated resistor elements aligned and spaced longitudinally in a direction parallel to the direction of rectilinear movement; one end of each of said resistor elements being connected in said power control circuit means; and wherein said second movable contact comprises a bridging contact having a pair of slide fingers for engagement with the respective resistor elements, defining a series connection between said resistor elements.

Claim 13

An electric switch and power control as set forth in claim 7 including a thick film printed circuit mounted on said housing; said resistor means being provided by an elongated resistor element formed on a surface of said thick film circuit.

Claim 14

An electronic switch and power control as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing defines a cavity for confining said thick film circuit; and wherein said actuator is provided with a recess for accommodating a projecting boss of said second movable contact whereby said contact is moved rectilinearly with said actuator.

Claim 15

An electric switch and power control as set forth in claim 11 wherein said thick film circuit is provided with a pair of elongated resistor elements arranged on the surface thereof in longitudinal alignment; and wherein said second movable contact is provided with a pair of contact fingers each engaging one of said resistor elements, defining a series connection between said resistor elements.