Patent US3708776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3708776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Push-button actuated excess current switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-22
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1991-10-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a push-button actuated excess current switch which includes a thermal trip, a trip-free release, a switching member connected to the pushbutton and a contact bridge pivotally mounted on the switching member. The contact bridge is in the form of a thin metal plate and is pivoted on the switching member by means of a tubular rivet. The tubular rivet is arranged so that it engages a right-angled portion of one leg of a torsion spring for effecting trip-free release, the other leg of the torsion spring being supported in the housing. The tubular rivet is arranged so that it is displaceably and rotatably guided in a groove in the switching member, which groove extends in the switching direction of the switch.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ellenberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H73/00; H01H73/22; H01H73/30; H01H73/306; H01H71/00; H01H71/02; H01H71/0207; H01H71/0214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A push-button actuated excess current switch comprising an elongate housing, a thermal trip, said thermal trip including a bimetal strip having a retaining member, a trip-free release, said trip-free release including a torsion spring having first and second legs, the first leg having a right angled portion and the second leg being supported in said housing, a switching member, said switching member being associated with the pushbutton of the switch, the switching member defining groove means extending in the switching direction of the switch and a catch, a contact bridge, said contact bridge being in the form of a metal plate pivotally mounted on said switching member about an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and being displaceable in the switching direction under the influence of said torsion spring, the contact bridge including a catch member, said catch member being adapted to engage the catch of the switching member during switching on of the switch whereby the contact bridge is brought into engagement with the retaining member of the bimetal strip, and a perpendicularly projecting tubular rivet, said tubular rivet being arranged in the region of the pivotal axis of the contact bridge, the tubular rivet engaging the right angled portion of the torsion spring and being adapted to be displaceably and rotatably guided in the groove means defined by the switching member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A push-button actuated excess current switch comprising an elongate housing, a thermal trip, said thermal trip including a bimetal strip having a retaining member, a trip-free release, said trip-free release including a torsion spring having first and second legs, the first leg having a right angled portion and the second leg being supported in said housing, a switching member, said switching member being associated with the pushbutton of the switch, the switching member defining groove means extending in the switching direction of the switch and a catch, a contact bridge, said contact bridge being in the form of a metal plate pivotally mounted on said switching member about an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing and being displaceable in the switching direction under the influence of said torsion spring, the contact bridge including a catch member, said catch member being adapted to engage the catch of the switching member during switching on of the switch whereby the contact bridge is brought into engagement with the retaining member of the bimetal strip, and a perpendicularly projecting tubular rivet, said tubular rivet being arranged in the region of the pivotal axis of the contact bridge, the tubular rivet engaging the right angled portion of the torsion spring and being adapted to be displaceably and rotatably guided in the groove means defined by the switching member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switch according to claim 1 which includes a stop for said tubular rivet, said stop being arranged at the end of the groove means defined by the switching member remote from the push-button.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switch according to claim 1 in which the tubular rivet is integral with the contact bridge and defines passage means therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A switch according to claim 1 in which said housing comprises a bowl-shaped portion and a cover in the form of a plate, the switch components being disposed in the bowl-shaped portion of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A switch according to claim 4 in which the switching member includes a protruding fillet, said fillet extending in the switching direction of the switch and engaging in a corresponding groove means defined by the bowl-shaped portion of the housing against the peripheral wall thereof, a spring, said spring biasing the fillet in the switch-off position of the push-button, the said spring being supported by the switching member and the bowl-shaped portion of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A switch according to claim 4 which includes a fixing arrangement for the switch, the bowl-shaped portion of the housing defining indentation means which are adapted to engage corresponding indentation means of said fixing arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A switch according to claim 4 in which the cover of the housing is provided with fixing flanges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A switch according to claim 1 in which the push-button is provided with a sloping surface, said contact bridge being adapted to be urged against said sloping surface by the torsion spring during trip-free release.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A switch according to claim 1 which includes a fixed contact member, the contact bridge having a right angled portion, said right angled portion being adapted to co-operate with the fixed contact member, the right angled portion of the contact bridge having a free end portion which is bent to form the catch member of the contact bridge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A switch according to claim 1 in which the bimetal strip extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing with the retaining Member being formed at a free end thereof and the contact bridge being provided with a semicircular protuberance, said semicircular protuberance being adapted to engage the retaining member of the bimetal strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A switch according to claim 1 which includes at least two lug-shaped terminals for connection to a printed circuit, said lug-shaped terminals extending perpendicularly away from the plane of the housing and a metal plate, said metal plate having at least two metal lugs in the form of replica terminals extending parallel to the two lug-shaped terminals.
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) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |