US3733448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inertia type switch with adjustable selective seating surface for movable contact
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-11
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1992-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A movement responsive switch assembly comprising a housing, a vertical conductive post reciprocally mounted in the housing and including inner and outer elements threaded together to define a seat of adjustable depth for supporting a conductive ball, and an adjustable stabilizing spring depending from the housing to apply stabilizing forces to the top of the ball, which together with the seat depth determines the directions and magnitude of the forces under which the ball is dislodged to effect switching.
Inventors
- 👤 C Brady
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H35/141; H01H35/143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A movement responsive switch assembly comprising a housing, a first vertical post element mounted in said housing and including an upper end portion, a second vertical post element threadedly received by said upper end portion of said first vertical post element and including an upper seating surface adjacent to the upper end portion of said first vertical post element, a stationary contact mounted in said housing and spaced from said post elements, a conductive ball defining a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact and normally positioned on said seating surface and being dislodgeable therefrom to a signalling position in response to predetermined forces acting upon the switch assembly, and means associated with said post elements for selective rotation of one of said post elements relative to the other of said post elements to adjust the vertical position of said seating surface relative to the upper end portion of said first vertical post element, thereby adjusting the effective depth of said seating surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A movement responsive switch assembly comprising a housing, a first vertical post element mounted in said housing and including an upper end portion, a second vertical post element threadedly received by said upper end portion of said first vertical post element and including an upper seating surface adjacent to the upper end portion of said first vertical post element, a stationary contact mounted in said housing and spaced from said post elements, a conductive ball defining a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact and normally positioned on said seating surface and being dislodgeable therefrom to a signalling position in response to predetermined forces acting upon the switch assembly, and means associated with said post elements for selective rotation of one of said post elements relative to the other of said post elements to adjust the vertical position of said seating surface relative to the upper end portion of said first vertical post element, thereby adjusting the effective depth of said seating surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said first post element is conductive, said conductive ball engaging both said stationary contact and said first post element when dislodged from said seating surface to said signaling position to complete a circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch assembly includes a first terminal external of said housing connected to said stationary contact, a conductive brush slidably engaging said first post element, and a second terminal exterior of said housing connected to said brush.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said comprises an annular conductive member surrounding said first post element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for selective rotation of one of said post elements includes an adjustment knob operatively connected to said one post element and external of said housing for rotation of said one post element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for selective rotation of one of said post elements includes detent means associated with said housing for prevenTing rotation of said other post element relative to said housing, said post elements being reciprocally mounted in an opening in said housing and selectively movable by said adjustment knob between an upper position and a lower position, said detent means operatively engaging said other post element when said post elements are in said lower position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said switch assembly includes biasing means associated with said housing for biasing said post elements away from said lower position to said upper position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
A movement responsive switch assembly comprising a housing, a vertical conductive post reciprocally mounted in said housing and being movable between a set position and a reset position, an opening in said housing, a portion of said post extending through said opening to the exterior of said housing, a reset knob affixed to said post exterior of said housing, spring means biasing said post toward said set position, a stationary contact attached to said housing and spaced from said post, said post having an upper seating surface, a conductive ball defining a movable contact normally resting in said seating surface, an elongated stabilizing compression spring carried by said housing and extending downwardly to normally embrace an upper portion of said ball when in said seating surface, and means for adjusting the compression of said stabilizing spring against said conductive ball to set the magnitude of force required to dislodge said conductive ball from said seating surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
156 words
A movement responsive switch assembly comprising a housing, a vertical conductive post reciprocally mounted in said housing and being movable between a set position and a reset position, an opening in said housing, a portion of said post extending through said opening to the exterior of said housing, a reset knob affixed to said post exterior of said housing, spring means biasing said post toward said set position, a stationary contact attached to said housing and spaced from said post, said post having an upper seating surface, a conductive ball defining a movable contact normally resting in said seating surface, an elongated stabilizing compression spring carried by said housing and extending downwardly to normally embrace an upper portion of said ball when in said seating surface, and means for adjusting the compression of said stabilizing spring against said conductive ball to set the magnitude of force required to dislodge said conductive ball from said seating surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The structure set forth in claim 8 wherein said post is comprised of inner and outer elements in adjustable threaded engagement with each other, said seating surface being associated with said inner element with the effective depth thereof being defined by the relative position of said inner element to said outer element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein said switch assembly includes detent means for locking said outer post element against rotation relative to said housing, said reset knob being affixed to said inner post element to permit rotation thereof to adjust the vertical position of said seating surface relative to said outer post element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure set forth in claim 10 wherein said outer post element is generally cylindrical in configuration and includes a threaded axial bore receiving said inner post element.
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) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |