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US3673365A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Slide key switch with improved plunger actuating mechanism with lost motion coupling

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-18
•
Granted: 1972-06-27
•
Expires: 1990-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract A slide key switch unit contained within a housing having a front opening with an extending portion, extending beyond the front opening of the housing. A plurality of electrical contacts are formed in the housing and a helical adjusting spring is disposed in the extending portion and urged against a key actuating plunger which is also slidably disposed in the front opening of the housing and engaging the extending portion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rudolf Schadow

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 01:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/52; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/20; H01H13/02; H01H13/12; H01H15/00; H01H15/02; H01H15/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A slide key switch unit, comprising: a housing, having a front opening and an extending portion extending beyond said front opening; a plurality of electrical contacts formed in said housing; a helical adjusting spring disposed on said extending portion in said housing; a contact slide, having a plurality of yieldable contacts for engagement with said contacts in said housing; and a key actuating plunger, slidably disposed in the front opening of said housing and engaging said extending portion and said adjusting spring, and including a longitudinal slot having an end opening provided therein, a carrier having an enlarged flange disposed in said actuating plunger slot and coupled to said contact slide, and a coupling spring disposed in said actuating plunger slot for pressing said carrier flange against the opening in said slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 132 words
A slide key switch unit, comprising: a housing, having a front opening and an extending portion extending beyond said front opening; a plurality of electrical contacts formed in said housing; a helical adjusting spring disposed on said extending portion in said housing; a contact slide, having a plurality of yieldable contacts for engagement with said contacts in said housing; and a key actuating plunger, slidably disposed in the front opening of said housing and engaging said extending portion and said adjusting spring, and including a longitudinal slot having an end opening provided therein, a carrier having an enlarged flange disposed in said actuating plunger slot and coupled to said contact slide, and a coupling spring disposed in said actuating plunger slot for pressing said carrier flange against the opening in said slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 1, comprising a first longitudinal channel formed in said actuating plunger, a second oppositely disposed longitudinal channel formed in said housing and said extending portion, said adjusting spring being disposed in the opening formed by said first and second channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second channels have a cross-sectional profile corresponding to the diameter of said adjusting spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 58 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 2 comprising a first support disposed in said housing at one end of said channels for engaging one end of said adjusting spring and a second support disposed at the other end of said channels in said actUating plunger for engagement with the opposite end of said adjusting spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and second supports include key extensions projecting in an opposite direction from said adjusting spring so as to serve as slidable guides for said contact slide and said actuating plunger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 5, wherein said housing extension is formed like a tongue and said actuating plunger includes a plurality of sidewalls enclosing said tongue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 6, wherein said actuating plunger sidewalls include shoulders formed on their front faces to serve as an abutment to limit the stroke of said actuating plunger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 7, wherein said contact slide includes a keyway for slidably engaging the key of said first support in said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 67 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 7, wherein said housing includes a cover plate having a plurality of openings, and wherein said actuating plunger includes a pair of abutment flanges on one end, and a two-footed abutment bar disposed through said cover plate openings and engaging the abutment flanges of said actuating plunger so as to define the rest position of said actuating plunger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The slide key switch unit as recited in claim 9, wherein said contact slide additionally comprises a yieldable ratchet for defining two different switching positions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2156946A Cited
US2633510A Cited
US2902550A Cited
US3258549A Cited
US3312809A Cited
US3457377A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-06-27 1975-12-27 1976-06-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-06-27 1979-12-27 1980-06-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-06-27 1983-12-27 1984-06-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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