US3694590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slide switch with improved movable contact actuator resilient biasing means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-04
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-01-04
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch including an insulative casing having fixed contacts and a plunger element movable within the casing having contacts for slideably engaging the fixed contacts so as to provide a plurality of switching positions. The plunger element has a plurality of oppositely disposed recesses in the sidewalls thereof and includes a spring-like portion positioned in each recess and molded integrally with the plunger element. Each spring-like portion has two independently acting spring elements projecting divergently outward from a back wall of the recess toward front wall portions thereof so as to outwardly bias the sliding contact positioned within each recess. An embodiment is also described in which the sliding contact is either plated or vacuum deposited onto an alternative spring configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon L Otterlei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H15/00; H01H15/02; H01H15/06; H01H11/00; H01H11/04; H01H11/06; H01H2011/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Electrical switching apparatus, comprising: a. an insulative casing; b. a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly carried by said casing; c. a plunger element longitudinally moveable within said casing, said element having a recess in at least one sidewall thereof and a spring-like portion positioned within said recess and molded integrally with said element; and d. electrical contact means in engagement with said spring-like portion of said plunger and urged laterally outward thereby for slidingly coacting with said fixed electrical contacts carried by said insulative casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Electrical switching apparatus, comprising: a. an insulative casing; b. a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly carried by said casing; c. a plunger element longitudinally moveable within said casing, said element having a recess in at least one sidewall thereof and a spring-like portion positioned within said recess and molded integrally with said element; and d. electrical contact means in engagement with said spring-like portion of said plunger and urged laterally outward thereby for slidingly coacting with said fixed electrical contacts carried by said insulative casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The electrical switching apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said recess is defined by front, rear and sidewall portions, said front wall portion having an opening therein defined by a flange portion formed integrally with the plunger element sidewall; and b. said spring-like portion extends outwardly from the rear wall of said recess toward the front wall portion thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
Electrical switching apparatus, comprising: a. an insulative casing; b. a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly carried by said casing; c. a plunger element longitudinally moveable within said casing having a recess in at least one sidewall thereof defined by front, rear and sidewall portions in which said front wall portion includes an opening therein defined by a flange portion formed integrally with the plunger sidewall and further having a spring-like portion positioned within said recess and formed integrally with said element so as to extend outwardly from the rear wall of said recess toward the front portion thereof; and d. sliding electrical contact means having oppositely disposed planar end portions and an outwardly projecting curved center portion, said spring-like portion urging said planar end portion toward said front wall portion and said curved center portion toward said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
Electrical switching apparatus, comprising: a. an insulative casing; b. a plurality of electrical contacts fixedly carried by said casing; c. a plunger element longitudinally moveable within said casing having a recess in at least one sidewall thereof defined by front, rear and sidewall portions in which said front wall portion includes an opening therein defined by a flange portion formed integrally with the plunger sidewall and further having a spring-like portion positioned within said recess and formed integrally with said element so as to extend outwardly from the rear wall of said recess toward the front portion thereof; and d. sliding electrical contact means having oppositely disposed planar end portions and an outwardly projecting curved center portion, said spring-like portion urging said planar end portion toward said front wall portion and said curved center portion toward said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The electrical switching apparatus of claim 3 wherein said spring-like portion includes a pair of independently acting resilient strips having inner end portions connected to one another by a connector portion carried by said rear wall, each of said resilient strips extending divergently outward from said connector portion toward a different one of said planar end portions of said contact means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The electrical switching apparatus of claim 2 wherein: a. said spring-like portion includes a pair of independently acting spring elements extending divergently outward from said rear wall of said recess toward said front wall and an outwardly curved portion extending between the outer portions of said spring elements and integrally connected thereto; and b. said sliding electrical contact is carried by said outwardly curved portion.
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) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |