Patent US6331858B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3725618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric program switch for automatic appliances
Assignee: Kieninger and Obergfell GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1970-08-27
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1990-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A program switch, e.g. for a washing machine, has a rotating platter with cam tracks on both sides sandwiched between two pairs of contact carriers. Each contact carrier is a flat body of insulating material with a multiplicity of contact strips imbedded therein, these strips being originally part of a continuous metal foil coated on both sides with insulation. The contact strips of one plate of each pair terminate in a set of projecting tabs while those of the companion plate may remain interconnected and are tied to a supply conductor. The free ends of one set of contact strips of each pair project into cutouts of the respective plates and carry projections in engagement with the associated cam tracks for movement relative to the exposed tips of co-operating strips of the other set.
Inventors
- 👤 D Voland
- 👤 E Scheer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H43/00; H01H43/10; H01H43/12; H01H43/124; H01H43/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A program switch comprising a rotatable platter provided on at least one surface with a set of cam tracks; and two flat stationary conTact carriers parallel to said platter permanently joined together and closely juxtaposed on the side of said surface, each of said contact carriers including a plate-shaped body of insulating material with at least one cutout and with an imbedded array of coplanar metal strips projecting into said cutout, the cutouts of said contact carriers registering with each other to enable conductive interengagement of exposed portions of pairs of coacting metal strips, the exposed portion of one strip of each coacting pair being a resilient leaf provided with a formation projecting through at least one of the aligned cutouts into contact with a corresponding cam track on said surface for alternate engagement with and disengagement from the other strip of the pair, the metal strips of one of said contact carriers terminating in tabs projecting marginally from the body thereof, the metal strips of the other of said contact carriers being part of a continuous foil, said foil being provided with an intermediate slit bounded by two resilient tongues integral with the foil, the body of said other of said contact carriers having a hole aligned with said slit for insertion of a plug engageable by said tongues.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A program switch comprising a rotatable platter provided on at least one surface with a set of cam tracks; and two flat stationary conTact carriers parallel to said platter permanently joined together and closely juxtaposed on the side of said surface, each of said contact carriers including a plate-shaped body of insulating material with at least one cutout and with an imbedded array of coplanar metal strips projecting into said cutout, the cutouts of said contact carriers registering with each other to enable conductive interengagement of exposed portions of pairs of coacting metal strips, the exposed portion of one strip of each coacting pair being a resilient leaf provided with a formation projecting through at least one of the aligned cutouts into contact with a corresponding cam track on said surface for alternate engagement with and disengagement from the other strip of the pair, the metal strips of one of said contact carriers terminating in tabs projecting marginally from the body thereof, the metal strips of the other of said contact carriers being part of a continuous foil, said foil being provided with an intermediate slit bounded by two resilient tongues integral with the foil, the body of said other of said contact carriers having a hole aligned with said slit for insertion of a plug engageable by said tongues.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A program switch as defined in claim 1 wherein a metal strip of one contact carrier has an extremity bent toward the other contact carrier, the latter having an overlying strip formed with an intermediate slit penetrated with frictional engagement by said extremity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A program switch as defined in claim 1 wherein two metal strips in said contact carriers are provided with aligned intermediate slits, further comprising a conductive bridge piece frictionally received in both said slits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A program switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said contact carriers are bonded together along at least one common edge of their bodies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A program switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the strip carrying said formation is part of the contact carrier remote from said platter and is bent at said leaf toward said platter into a cutout of the contact carrier proximal to the platter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A program switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the strip carrying said formation is part of the contact carrier proximal to the platter and is substantially straight within its cutout, a confronting portion of the coacting strip on the contact carrier remote from said cutout being bent outwardly in the direction away from said platter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A program switch as defined in claim 6 wherein part of said outwardly bent portion is covered with insulation integral with the body of said remote contact carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A program switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said contact carriers have portions offset from said platter, further comprising a switch member substantially coplanar with said surface positioned to engage metal strips in said offset portions connected in circuit with at least some metal strips controlled by the cam tracks of said platter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
A program switch comprising a rotatable platter provided on at least one surface with a set of cam tracks; and two flat stationary contact carriers parallel to said platter permanently joined together and closely juxtaposed on the side of said surface, each of said contact carriers including a plate-shaped body of insulating material with at least one cutout and with an imbedded array of coplanar metal strips projecting into said cutout, the cutouts of said contact carriers registering with each other to enable conductive interengagement of exposed portions of pairs of coacting metal strips, the exposed portion of one strip of each coacting pair being a resilient leaf provided with a formation projecting through at least one of the aligned cutouts into contact with a corresponding cam track on said surface for alternate engagement with and disengagement from the other strip of the pair, a metal strip of one contact carrier having an extremity bent toward the other contact carrier, the latter having an overlying strip formed with an intermediate slit penetrated wiTh frictional engagement by said extremity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
A program switch comprising a rotatable platter provided on at least one surface with a set of cam tracks; and two flat stationary contact carriers parallel to said platter permanently joined together and closely juxtaposed on the side of said surface, each of said contact carriers including a plate-shaped body of insulating material with at least one cutout and with an imbedded array of coplanar metal strips projecting into said cutout, the cutouts of said contact carriers registering with each other to enable conductive interengagement of exposed portions of pairs of coacting metal strips, the exposed portion of one strip of each coacting pair being a resilient leaf provided with a formation projecting through at least one of the aligned cutouts into contact with a corresponding cam track on said surface for alternate engagement with and disengagement from the other strip of the pair, a metal strip of one contact carrier having an extremity bent toward the other contact carrier, the latter having an overlying strip formed with an intermediate slit penetrated wiTh frictional engagement by said extremity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
169 words
A program switch comprising a rotatable platter provided on at least one surface with a set of cam tracks; and two flat stationary contact carriers parallel to said platter permanently joined together and closely juxtaposed on the side of said surface, each of said contact carriers including a plate-shaped body of insulating material with at least one cutout and with an imbedded array of coplanar metal strips projecting into said cutout, the cutouts of said contact carriers registering with each other to enable conductive interengagement of exposed portions of pairs of coacting metal strips, the exposed portion of one strip of each coacting pair being a resilient leaf provided with a formation projecting through at least one of the aligned cutouts into contact with a corresponding cam track on said surface for alternate engagement with and disengagement from the other strip of the pair, two metal strips in said contact carriers being provided with aligned intermediate slits, further comprising a conductive bridge piece frictionally received in both said slits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
169 words
A program switch comprising a rotatable platter provided on at least one surface with a set of cam tracks; and two flat stationary contact carriers parallel to said platter permanently joined together and closely juxtaposed on the side of said surface, each of said contact carriers including a plate-shaped body of insulating material with at least one cutout and with an imbedded array of coplanar metal strips projecting into said cutout, the cutouts of said contact carriers registering with each other to enable conductive interengagement of exposed portions of pairs of coacting metal strips, the exposed portion of one strip of each coacting pair being a resilient leaf provided with a formation projecting through at least one of the aligned cutouts into contact with a corresponding cam track on said surface for alternate engagement with and disengagement from the other strip of the pair, two metal strips in said contact carriers being provided with aligned intermediate slits, further comprising a conductive bridge piece frictionally received in both said slits.
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) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |