Patent US3694602A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3694602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A rotary switch having a torsion spring snap mechanism
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-11-19
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1990-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A pushbutton controlled rotary switch in which springs move into corners of an appropriately shaped opening in order to hold the switch in its various operative positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Sadayoshi Iwasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H19/00; H01H19/54; H01H19/60; H01H19/62; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/32; H01C10/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A rotary switch comprising: a shaft freely rotatably mounted on a frame body; an operating cam plate fixed on an end of said rotating shaft; a cam portion provided on one part of said cam plate; a resilient contact piece kept in a normally contacting condition with said cam plate by its own resilience and one end of which is movable; a fixed contact provided opposingly to said movable end of said resilient contact piece; a spring of approximately V-shape and having one leg thEreof engaged with first engaging means in said frame body and the other leg thereof being engaged with said operating cam plate; a second and a third engaging means provided in a relation, together with said first engaging position forming a triangle; said second and third engaging means defining a convex guide edge therebetween and a leg of said V-shaped spring engaging said guide edge; whereby, when said rotating shaft rotates, the control of said resilient contact piece due to said cam portion of said cam plate is made stepwise and the switching motion of said resilient contact piece is made instantaneous.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A rotary switch comprising: a shaft freely rotatably mounted on a frame body; an operating cam plate fixed on an end of said rotating shaft; a cam portion provided on one part of said cam plate; a resilient contact piece kept in a normally contacting condition with said cam plate by its own resilience and one end of which is movable; a fixed contact provided opposingly to said movable end of said resilient contact piece; a spring of approximately V-shape and having one leg thEreof engaged with first engaging means in said frame body and the other leg thereof being engaged with said operating cam plate; a second and a third engaging means provided in a relation, together with said first engaging position forming a triangle; said second and third engaging means defining a convex guide edge therebetween and a leg of said V-shaped spring engaging said guide edge; whereby, when said rotating shaft rotates, the control of said resilient contact piece due to said cam portion of said cam plate is made stepwise and the switching motion of said resilient contact piece is made instantaneous.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A rotary switch adapted to move a movable contact into and out of operative engagement with a fixed contact comprising a frame, a rotary member rotatably mounted on said frame, means on said rotary member operatively engaging said movable contact for moving said movable contact into and out of engagement with said fixed contact in response to rotation of said rotary member, spring means adapted to move between two detented positions on said frame, means operatively connecting said rotary member to said spring means for movement therewith between said two detented positions whereby rotation of said rotary member in one sense is effective to move said spring means to one of said detented positions and to simultaneously move said movable contact into operative engagement with said fixed contact and rotation of said rotary member in the opposite sense is effective to move said spring means to the other of said detented positions and to simultaneously move said movable contact out of engagement with said fixed contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A rotary switch adapted to move a movable contact into and out of operative engagement with a fixed contact comprising a frame, a rotary member rotatably mounted on said frame, means on said rotary member operatively engaging said movable contact for moving said movable contact into and out of engagement with said fixed contact in response to rotation of said rotary member, spring means adapted to move between two detented positions on said frame, means operatively connecting said rotary member to said spring means for movement therewith between said two detented positions whereby rotation of said rotary member in one sense is effective to move said spring means to one of said detented positions and to simultaneously move said movable contact into operative engagement with said fixed contact and rotation of said rotary member in the opposite sense is effective to move said spring means to the other of said detented positions and to simultaneously move said movable contact out of engagement with said fixed contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A rotary switch for moving a movable contact into and out of engagement with a fixed contact comprising a frame, a rotary member rotatably mounted on said frame, spring means mounted at one end on said frame and having its other end movable with respect to said frame between first and second detentable positions, means connecting said rotary member to said other end of said spring means in driving relationship for movement therewith thereby to limit the rotation of said rotary member to that portion of its rotary travel corresponding to said first and second detentable positions of said spring means, and means on said rotary member operatively engaging said movable contact and adapted to move said movable contact into and out of engagement with said fixed contact as said spring means is moved to said first and second detentable positions, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A rotary switch for moving a movable contact into and out of engagement with a fixed contact comprising a frame, a rotary member rotatably mounted on said frame, spring means mounted at one end on said frame and having its other end movable with respect to said frame between first and second detentable positions, means connecting said rotary member to said other end of said spring means in driving relationship for movement therewith thereby to limit the rotation of said rotary member to that portion of its rotary travel corresponding to said first and second detentable positions of said spring means, and means on said rotary member operatively engaging said movable contact and adapted to move said movable contact into and out of engagement with said fixed contact as said spring means is moved to said first and second detentable positions, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The rotary switch of claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises a resilient member having two legs normally biased outwardly away from each other, means on one of said legs for engaging said frame at a relatively fixed pivot point and means on said other leg for engaging said rotatable member in drivable relationship therewith, and cam means on said frame defining said two detented first and second detentable positions of said other leg.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The rotary switch of claim 3, wherein said means for moving said movable contact comprises projection means extending radially outwardly from said rotary member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The rotary switch of claim 4, wherein said means for moving said movable contact comprises projection means extending radially outwardly from said rotary member.
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 |