US3731030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pushbutton switch assembly with pivotable conductive bridging member and multiple conductive path printed circuit board
Assignee: Holzer Patent AG
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Filing: 1971-06-11
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of push-button switches mounted in a housing having a printed circuit board with conductive paths thereon as a base. Each push-button switch is mounted within the housing by a spring which biases the switch in an upward direction and includes a spring engaging a contact piece so that depression of the pushbutton switch causes the contact piece to rock on a bearing element in contact with a conductive path of the printed circuit board. A spring mounted between the housing and a portion of the contact bridge biases the contact bridge in a first position where a conductive path is formed by the contact bridge between the conductive bearing element and one contact on the bridge and movement of the contact bridge by depression of the push-button switch causes a new conductive path to be formed between another portion of the contact bridge, the conductive bearing element and another contact on the contact bridge.
Inventors
- 👤 W Holzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/12; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/36; H01H1/40; H01H1/403; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/60; H01H13/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
Push-button switch apparatus, comprising: a contact housing; a printed circuit board having thereon conductive paths and forming the base of said contact housing; at least one contact bridge mounted within said housing including a conductive bearing element resting on one of said conductive paths and at least one pair of spaced contacts; means for biasing said at least one contact bridge so that one contact of said at least one pair of spaced contacts engages with another of said conductive paths; means mounted within said housing for moving said at least one contact bridge to remove said one contact from said conductive path and establish engagement of the other of said spaced contacts with another of said conductive paths, said means including at least one push-button slide; a compression spring mounted between said at least one pushbutton slide and an associated one of said at least one contact bridge for moving said contact bridge upon depression of said push-button slide; and an additional compression spring mounted between said at least one push-button slide and said housing for biasing an upper portion of said push-button slide above an upper surface of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
Push-button switch apparatus, comprising: a contact housing; a printed circuit board having thereon conductive paths and forming the base of said contact housing; at least one contact bridge mounted within said housing including a conductive bearing element resting on one of said conductive paths and at least one pair of spaced contacts; means for biasing said at least one contact bridge so that one contact of said at least one pair of spaced contacts engages with another of said conductive paths; means mounted within said housing for moving said at least one contact bridge to remove said one contact from said conductive path and establish engagement of the other of said spaced contacts with another of said conductive paths, said means including at least one push-button slide; a compression spring mounted between said at least one pushbutton slide and an associated one of said at least one contact bridge for moving said contact bridge upon depression of said push-button slide; and an additional compression spring mounted between said at least one push-button slide and said housing for biasing an upper portion of said push-button slide above an upper surface of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Push-button switch apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said at least one contact bridge consists of a flat metal strip and further comprising means mounted within said housing for guiding said push-button slide therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Push-button switch apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising means mounted within said housing for preventing lateral movement of said at least one contact bridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Push-button switch apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said at least one push-button slide includes a bifurcated bottom portion, said flat metal strip is inserted within the ends of said bifurcated portion and said compression spring is mounted within the lower portion of said push-button slide between an internal shoulder thereof and said flat metal strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Push-button switch apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said contact housing comprises a number of contact housing elements and a number of contact bridges each mounted within a respective contact housing element, and each of said contact housing elements including a push-button slide.
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) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |