Magnetic switches and method and apparatus for making same

Claim 2

A switch device, comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, and actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means including spring biasing means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure and for providing spring biased rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to said certain path, at least one of said holding means including slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means permitting rectilinear positional adjustment in a direction parallel to the direction of said rectilinear movement for adjustment of the device to obtain operation of said switch means when said actuating structure is moved to a certain position relative to said support structure.

Claim 3

In a switch device as defined in claim 1, said one of said holding means including means accessible for engagement after assembly of said device for adjustment of said holding means.

Claim 4

In a switch device as defined in claim 1, said slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means being included in said first holding means whereby the position of said magnet means is adjustable relative to said actuating structure.

Claim 5

A switch device, comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, an actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means including spring biasing means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure and for providing spring biased rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to said certain path, at least one of said holding means including slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means permitting rectilinear positional adjustment in a direction parallel to the direction of said rectilinear movement for adjustment of the device to obtain operation of said switch means when said actuatIng structure is moved to a certain position relative to said support structure, said actuating structure including a reciprocable member, and said first holding means comprising socket means at one end of said member for receiving said magnet means, axial passage meanS extending from said socket to the opposite end of said member, and an adjustment pin in said passage means engagable with said magnet means, said slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means being defined by the outer surface of said adjustment pin and the inner surface of said passage means.

Claim 6

A switch device, comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, an actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means including spring biasing means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure and for providing spring biased rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to said certain path, at least one of said holding means including slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means permitting rectilinear positional adjustment in a direction parallel to the direction of said rectilinear movement for adjustment of the device to obtain operation of said switch means when said actuatIng structure is moved to a certain position relative to said support structure, said actuating structure including a reciprocable member, and said first holding means comprising socket means at one end of said member for receiving said magnet means, axial passage meanS extending from said socket to the opposite end of said member, and an adjustment pin in said passage means engagable with said magnet means, said slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means being defined by the outer surface of said adjustment pin and the inner surface of said passage means.

Claim 7

In a switch device as defined in claim 4, said pin being a roll pin defined by substantially more than one convolution of a resilient metal strip.

Claim 8

In a switch device as defined in claim 4, said Support structure comprising hollow housing means defining an internal guideway receiving said reciprocable member and having a closed end wall facing said socket means, and a coiled compression spring acting between said closed end wall and said magnet means to hold said magnet means in said socket means and against said pin and to urge said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall.

Claim 9

A switch device comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, and actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure for rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path, and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to said certain path, said actuating structure including a reciprocable member, said first holding means comprising socket means at one end of said member for receiving said magnet means, said support structure comprising hollow housing meanS defining an internal guideway receiving said reciprocable member and having a closed end wall facing said socket means, and a coiled compression spring between said closed end wall and said magnet means to hold said magnet means in said socket means and to urge said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall, said actuating structure including adjustment means cooperating with said magnetic means for permitting adjustment of the position at which said magnetic means is held within said socket means by said spring.

Claim 10

A switch device comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, and actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure for rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path, and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to said certain path, said actuating structure including a reciprocable member, said first holding means comprising socket means at one end of said member for receiving said magnet means, said support structure comprising hollow housing meanS defining an internal guideway receiving said reciprocable member and having a closed end wall facing said socket means, and a coiled compression spring between said closed end wall and said magnet means to hold said magnet means in said socket means and to urge said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall, said actuating structure including adjustment means cooperating with said magnetic means for permitting adjustment of the position at which said magnetic means is held within said socket means by said spring.

Claim 11

In a switch device as defined in claim 7, socket means on said closed end wall for receiving one end of said coiled compression spring.

Claim 12

A switch device comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, an actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure for rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path, second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to certain path, said actuating structure comprising a reciprocable member, said support structure comprising hollow housing means defining an internal guideway receiving said reciprocable member and having a closed end wall, spring means acting between said support structure and said reciprocable member for urging said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall, and at least one resilient finger integrally connected at one end to said reciprocable member and extending along one side of said member toward said closed end wall of said housing means to an opposite free end, and an integral projection on said free end of said finger projecting transversely and outwardly therefrom, said housing means having an internal stop surface facing said closed end and engagable by said projection to limit movement of said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall, said free end of said finger being deflectable inwardly during assembly until positioned beyond said stop surface.

Claim 13

A switch device comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, an actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure for rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path, second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to certain path, said actuating structure comprising a reciprocable member, said support structure comprising hollow housing means defining an internal guideway receiving said reciprocable member and having a closed end wall, spring means acting between said support structure and said reciprocable member for urging said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall, and at least one resilient finger integrally connected at one end to said reciprocable member and extending along one side of said member toward said closed end wall of said housing means to an opposite free end, and an integral projection on said free end of said finger projecting transversely and outwardly therefrom, said housing means having an internal stop surface facing said closed end and engagable by said projection to limit movement of said reciprocable member away from said closed end wall, said free end of said finger being deflectable inwardly during assembly until positioned beyond said stop surface.

Claim 14

In a switch device as defined in claim 9, a second resilient finger integrally connected at one end to said reciprocable member and extending along an opposite side of said member toward said closed end wall of said housing means to an opposite free end, and an integral projection one said free end of said second finger projecting transversely and outwardly therefrom, said housing means having a second internal stop surface facing said closed end wall and engagable by said projection of said second finger at the same time that the projection of said first finger engages said first internal stop surface.

Claim 15

In a switch device as defined in claim 9, second means at one end of said reciprocable member fOr receiving said magnet means, said compression spring means acting between said closed end wall and said magnet means, said socket means and said spring means forming part of said first holding means.

Claim 16

In a switch device as defined in claim 11, said first holding means further including axial passage means extending from said socket means to the opposite and reciprocable member, an adjustment pin in said passage means engagable with said magnet means.

Claim 17

A switch device comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, an actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure for rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path, and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to certain path, said switch means comprising a reed switch including an elongated hollow casing and a pair of contacts of resilient magnetic material extending within said casing from opposite ends thereof to free ends in overlapping interengagable relation, said second holding means comprising a stamping including a first portion in generally transverse relation to said casing, second and third portions projecting from opposite ends of said first portion in generally parallel relation to said casing and defining switch terminals, a fourth portion in generally parallel relation to said first portion, and a fifth portion between said first and fourth portions in generally parallel relation to said casing, a pair of lead wires having ends connected to said contacts and projecting from said casing to opposite ends connected to points between said first and fourth portions, said first portion being severed at a point between the connections of said lead wire and said fifth portion thereto.

Claim 18

A switch device comprising: magnetically actuatable switch means, magnet means for actuating said switch means when disposed in proximity thereto, an actuating structure, a support structure supporting said actuating structure for rectilinear movement relative thereto, first holding means for holding said magnet means on said actuating structure for rectilinear bodily movement in a certain path, and second holding means for holding said switch means on said support structure at a position in proximity to certain path, said switch means comprising a reed switch including an elongated hollow casing and a pair of contacts of resilient magnetic material extending within said casing from opposite ends thereof to free ends in overlapping interengagable relation, said second holding means comprising a stamping including a first portion in generally transverse relation to said casing, second and third portions projecting from opposite ends of said first portion in generally parallel relation to said casing and defining switch terminals, a fourth portion in generally parallel relation to said first portion, and a fifth portion between said first and fourth portions in generally parallel relation to said casing, a pair of lead wires having ends connected to said contacts and projecting from said casing to opposite ends connected to points between said first and fourth portions, said first portion being severed at a point between the connections of said lead wire and said fifth portion thereto.

Claim 19

In a switch device as defined in claim 13, said support structure comprising hollow housing means including a main body portion and an end cap portion bonded to said body portion to define a closed end wall, said end cap portion having openings therethrough through which said second and third portions of said stamping are extended, said end cap and body portions having opposed surfaces in clamping engagement with said first portion of said stamping.

Claim 20

In a switch device as defined in claim 7, said actuating structure including axial passage means extending from said socket means to the opposite end of said reciprocable member and said adjustment means comprising slidably and frictionally interengaged surface meanS disposed in said passage means and engagable with said magnetic means.

Claim 21

In a switch device as defined in claim 15, said adjustment means being accessible for adjustment of the position of said magnetic means after assembly of said device.

Claim 22

In a switch device as defined in claim 16, said slidably and frictionally interengaged surface means comprising an adjustment pin frictionally and slidably disposed in said passage means and engagable with said magnetic means.