US3639714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pushbutton alternate action switch with pushbutton shaft unconnected to alternate action actuator block
Assignee: Fujisoku Corp
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Filing: 1970-05-15
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A pushbutton switch of snap-action type completes a circuit on the first push and holds the circuit in locked condition while allowing the pushbutton shaft to return to its original position. On a second push, the switch breaks the circuit and completes another circuit and again allows the pushbutton shaft to return to its original position.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroji Fujimoto
- 👤 Kenji Nakakura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/562
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In a pushbutton switch of the snap-action type having a spring-biased actuator block reciprocable in a longitudinal path within a switch housing, at least one seesaw-type switch armature extending below said path within said housing and at least one spring-biased pin recessed in said block with its tip in sliding engagement with said armature to tilt the same on the pivot thereof at each opposite end of said block path, the improvement comprising: a pushbutton shaft, reciprocable independently of, and unconnected to said actuator block; locking mechanism including a grooved cam face of predetermined configuration on said actuator block and a resilient, wire, locking, spring follower, having one end secured in said housing and having a free terminal tip received and guided in the grooves of said cam said locking mechanism locking said block at the far end of said path when pushed thereto by said button shaft and permitting said shaft to be fully spring returned and releasing said block for spring return to the near end of its path, with said button shaft when said button is next pushed and spring returned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a pushbutton switch of the snap-action type having a spring-biased actuator block reciprocable in a longitudinal path within a switch housing, at least one seesaw-type switch armature extending below said path within said housing and at least one spring-biased pin recessed in said block with its tip in sliding engagement with said armature to tilt the same on the pivot thereof at each opposite end of said block path, the improvement comprising: a pushbutton shaft, reciprocable independently of, and unconnected to said actuator block; locking mechanism including a grooved cam face of predetermined configuration on said actuator block and a resilient, wire, locking, spring follower, having one end secured in said housing and having a free terminal tip received and guided in the grooves of said cam said locking mechanism locking said block at the far end of said path when pushed thereto by said button shaft and permitting said shaft to be fully spring returned and releasing said block for spring return to the near end of its path, with said button shaft when said button is next pushed and spring returned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A pushbutton, snap-action switch as specified in claim 1 wherein: said free terminal tip of said follower is downturned to depend therefrom and ride on the floor of said grooved cam face in a position normal thereto an intermediate portion of said follower is looped around a tongue integral with said housinG, and said one end abuts against a wall of said housing whereby said spring may be merely dropped in place during assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
A pushbutton snap-action switch as specified in claim 1 wherein: said grooved cam face includes a flat, horizontal, lower face, divided into two areas separated by an obliqued upstanding wall, a flat horizontal upper face and a sloped face joining said upper and lower faces, whereby said follower tip normally rests in one area of said lower face, becomes locked in the other area of said lower face on the first push and retraction of said button shaft to retain said block as said shaft fully retracts and is lifted up said sloped face to said upper face for return to said first area upon the second push and retraction of said button to release said block to retract with said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A pushbutton, snap-action switch as specified in claim 1 wherein the terminal tip of said spring follower is downturned at right angles into said grooved cam face and said grooved cam face includes a lower face and an upper face joined by a sloped face, said lower face having a hooked, oblique wall upstanding therefrom to retain said block against retraction on the first stroke of said button while said button shaft fully retracts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pushbutton, snap-action switch as specified in claim 1 wherein: said grooved cam face includes a lower face and an upper face joined by a sloped face, said upper face having angularly disposed vertical walls upstanding therefrom to guide the tip of said spring follower onto the lower face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
A pushbutton snap-action switch as specified in claim 1 wherein: said switch includes an insulative case, within said housing, said case having a central, longitudinal upstanding wall with one of said seesaw switches in a compartment on each opposite side of said wall; said actuator block includes a central, longitudinal groove in the bottom thereof for slidably receiving said wall, and includes one of said spring-biased pins and pin recesses on each opposite side of said groove; the grooved cam face of said block being integral with the upper face thereof, and cooperable with said locking spring follower to jointly control both of said seesaw switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a pushbutton, snap-action switch of the type having a slidably mounted actuator block for opening and closing circuits, a slidably mounted spring return pushbutton shaft independent of, and unconnected to, said block for pushing said block along a path in said switch, and combined snap-action and locking detent means integral with said block, said means including: a cam face recess in said block having an oblique hooked detent dividing a lower face into two areas, an upper face and a sloped face joining said upper and lower faces, and flexible resilient wire means fixed in said switch and having a free terminal tip received in said cam face recess, said tip being locked in the depression defined by said hooked detent and said sloped face on the first stroke of said pushbutton to fix said block in a first position at the far end of said path while said shaft fully retracts and being released from said depression by said sloped face on the next stroke of said pushbutton to retract with said pushbutton shaft to the near end of said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a pushbutton, snap-action switch of the type having a slidably mounted actuator block for opening and closing circuits, a slidably mounted spring return pushbutton shaft independent of, and unconnected to, said block for pushing said block along a path in said switch, and combined snap-action and locking detent means integral with said block, said means including: a cam face recess in said block having an oblique hooked detent dividing a lower face into two areas, an upper face and a sloped face joining said upper and lower faces, and flexible resilient wire means fixed in said switch and having a free terminal tip received in said cam face recess, said tip being locked in the depression defined by said hooked detent and said sloped face on the first stroke of said pushbutton to fix said block in a first position at the far end of said path while said shaft fully retracts and being released from said depression by said sloped face on the next stroke of said pushbutton to retract with said pushbutton shaft to the near end of said path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
A pushbutton snap-action switch of the type having a housing in which an insulative block is slidable longitudinally along a path, astride the central wall of an insulative casing to tilt a pair of seesaw switch armatures from one position to another, the combination of: a pushbutton shaft, independent of, and unconnected to said block for pushing said block along said path within said housing, a combined camming and latching recess in one exterior wall of said block, said recess having a central, upstanding, hooked, obliqued detent dividing a lower face into two areas, an upper face and a sloped face joining said upper and lower faces, and a spring fixed In said housing and having a right angularly bent tip guided in said recess to snap into the hook of said detent on a first pushbutton stroke to retain said block in one position on said path while said shaft retracts, and to be released from said hook by said sloped face on a second pushbutton stroke to release said block to retract with said shaft to another position on said path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
A pushbutton snap-action switch of the type having a housing in which an insulative block is slidable longitudinally along a path, astride the central wall of an insulative casing to tilt a pair of seesaw switch armatures from one position to another, the combination of: a pushbutton shaft, independent of, and unconnected to said block for pushing said block along said path within said housing, a combined camming and latching recess in one exterior wall of said block, said recess having a central, upstanding, hooked, obliqued detent dividing a lower face into two areas, an upper face and a sloped face joining said upper and lower faces, and a spring fixed In said housing and having a right angularly bent tip guided in said recess to snap into the hook of said detent on a first pushbutton stroke to retain said block in one position on said path while said shaft retracts, and to be released from said hook by said sloped face on a second pushbutton stroke to release said block to retract with said shaft to another position on said path.
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) | 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 |