US3639708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary switch lock
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-13
•
Granted: 1972-02-01
•
Expires: 1990-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A key-operated rotary switch lock having movable roller contacts which roll along the surface of terminal contacts upon making contact therewith. The terminal contacts are mounted to, and project outwardly from, an insulator surface. The roller contacts comprise annular discs rotatably mounted on an elongated shaft which in turn is mounted for rotation about an axis normal to both the shaft axis and the insulator surface for translating the roller contacts to and away from the terminal contacts. A spacer member projects outwardly from the insulator surface along the axis of switch rotation to maintain a clearance between the roller contacts and the insulator surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley C Wolniak
- 👤 Herbert J Kincaid
- 👤 Marshall A Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H27/00; H01H27/06; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/16; H01H19/00; H01H19/54; H01H19/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An electrical switch comprising: a terminal contact member having a contacting surface; a movable contact member; means for mounting the movable contact member for rotation about an axis therethrough; and means for movably mounting said movable contact member mounting means to translate said movable contact member toward and away from said terminal contact member to respectively make and break electrical contact therewith, said movable contact member rotating about said axis to roll along the surface of said terminal contact member upon making contact therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electrical switch comprising: a terminal contact member having a contacting surface; a movable contact member; means for mounting the movable contact member for rotation about an axis therethrough; and means for movably mounting said movable contact member mounting means to translate said movable contact member toward and away from said terminal contact member to respectively make and break electrical contact therewith, said movable contact member rotating about said axis to roll along the surface of said terminal contact member upon making contact therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The electrical switch of claim 1 wherein said shaft-mounting means includes a retainer member for supporting said shaft, said retainer member being movably mounted to rotate said shaft for translating said movable contact member toward and away from said terminal contact member for making electrical contact therewith, said movable contact member having a circular contacting surface, part of said circular contacting surface projecting from said retainer member toward said terminal contact member for rolling along the contacting surface thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrical switch of claim 2 including an insulator member having an insulator surface, said terminal contact member being mounted to said insulator member and having a contacting surface projecting from said insulator surfaCe toward said movable contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical switch of claim 3 including spacer means located between said retainer member and said insulator surface for maintaining a clearance between said insulator surface and said movable contact member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrical switch of claim 3 wherein said insulator surface and said retainer surface lie in generally parallel planes, said retainer member being mounted for rotational movement about an axis generally perpendicular to said planes to translate said moving contact member into contact with said terminal member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
The electrical switch of claim 2 wherein said movable contact member comprises an annular shaped roller member mounted to said elongated shaft for rotation about the axis thereof, said retainer member has a surface facing said insulator surface with a roller member receiving recess therein, said roller member extending from said retainer member surface and shaft toward said terminal contact member for rolling along the contacting surface thereof, and said retainer member surface has an elongated recess therein communicating with said roller member receiving recess, said elongated recess supporting said shaft for maintaining a clearance between said roller member and inner surfaces of said roller member receiving recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
The electrical switch of claim 6 including an insulator member having a surface facing said retainer member surface, said terminal contact member extending through said insulator member and having a contacting surface projecting from said insulator surface toward said movable contact member, resilient means operating between said insulator member and said retainer member tending to force said roller member into contact with said insulator surface, spacer means located between said retainer surface and said insulator surface for maintaining a clearance between said roller member and said insulator surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical switch of claim 7 wherein said spacer member is integral to said insulator member and projects generally along the axis of rotation of said retainer member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical switch of claim 2 wherein said terminal-contacting surface extends at an acute angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said retainer member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electrical switch having a terminal contact mounted in an insulator with a surface of said terminal contact projecting from a surface of said insulator toward a movable contact member, means mounting said movable contact member for translational movement toward said terminal contact surface for making electrical contact therewith, and means tending to force said movable contact into engagement with said insulator surface, the improvement comprising: a spacer member positioned between said insulator surface and said movable contact mounting means for resisting said force means to maintain a clearance between said insulator surface and movable contact surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electrical switch having a terminal contact mounted in an insulator with a surface of said terminal contact projecting from a surface of said insulator toward a movable contact member, means mounting said movable contact member for translational movement toward said terminal contact surface for making electrical contact therewith, and means tending to force said movable contact into engagement with said insulator surface, the improvement comprising: a spacer member positioned between said insulator surface and said movable contact mounting means for resisting said force means to maintain a clearance between said insulator surface and movable contact surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electrical switch of claim 10 wherein said movable contact mounting means is mounted for rotational motion about an axis perpendicular to said insulator surface and said spacer member projects generally along said axis for supporting said movable contact means away from said insulator surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said spacer member is integral with said insulator member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical switch of claim 10 wherein said movable contact member makes initial contact with said terminal contact surface at a point distant from said insulator surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical switch of claim 10 wherein the extent of terminal contact projection is greater than said clearance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical switch of claim 1 wherein said movable contact member mounting means comprises a shaft, said movable contact member being rotatably mounted thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical switch of claim 1 wherein said movable contact member mounting means is electrically conductive and electrically common with said movaBle contact member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3358093A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |