US3749871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pawl and ratchet switch with flexible u-shaped pawl member
Assignee: Woodhead Industries LLC
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Filing: 1972-04-27
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1992-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An electric switch embodying a housing having a rotatable ratchet wheel element therein, with an elongated actuator slidably mounted in the housing and projecting outwardly therefrom for rotating the element. The actuator element has a rectangular section that is guided by three walls of the casing, and a U-shaped flexible pawl member above the body portion of the actuator, with each leg of the U-parallel to a guide rod extending from the actuator member. The flexible pawl rotates the ratchet wheel to make and break the circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 R Stoll
- 👤 A Reed
- 👤 V Buzek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/58; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2133; Y10T74/2136; Y10T74/2138
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
An electric switch comprising a dielectric housing having parallel wide walls, end walls, a top wall and a bottOm wall, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said side walls in said housing, said ratchet wheel having on its periphery a plurality of teeth, a conductive switch contact mounted on said wheel and having conductively connected switch contact members positioned on alternating teeth about the periphery of said wheel, two switch contact blades mounted in said housing and having springable ends riding on the periphery of said teeth and the switch contact members thereon, and a dielectric, reciprocable push button actuator located beneath said ratchet wheel and embodying (a) a rectangular body portion slidable in said housing and having its opposite sides in sliding contact with said side walls, (b) a push button extending from one side of said body portion through an aperture in one of said end walls, (c) a rod extending from the opposite side of said body portion and a helical spring about said rod, said spring urging said body portion against said one of said end walls, and (d) a resilient, U-shaped pawl-bearing member above said rod and having its upper and lower legs parallel with said rod and a bight portion remote from said body portion, the end of the lower leg extending from said body portion and the upper leg having a free end remote from said bight portion, said free end having an upwardly projecting pawl thereon positioned to contact the teeth of the ratchet wheel and rotate said wheel when said push button actuator is pushed in a direction against the compressive force of said spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
An electric switch comprising a dielectric housing having parallel wide walls, end walls, a top wall and a bottOm wall, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said side walls in said housing, said ratchet wheel having on its periphery a plurality of teeth, a conductive switch contact mounted on said wheel and having conductively connected switch contact members positioned on alternating teeth about the periphery of said wheel, two switch contact blades mounted in said housing and having springable ends riding on the periphery of said teeth and the switch contact members thereon, and a dielectric, reciprocable push button actuator located beneath said ratchet wheel and embodying (a) a rectangular body portion slidable in said housing and having its opposite sides in sliding contact with said side walls, (b) a push button extending from one side of said body portion through an aperture in one of said end walls, (c) a rod extending from the opposite side of said body portion and a helical spring about said rod, said spring urging said body portion against said one of said end walls, and (d) a resilient, U-shaped pawl-bearing member above said rod and having its upper and lower legs parallel with said rod and a bight portion remote from said body portion, the end of the lower leg extending from said body portion and the upper leg having a free end remote from said bight portion, said free end having an upwardly projecting pawl thereon positioned to contact the teeth of the ratchet wheel and rotate said wheel when said push button actuator is pushed in a direction against the compressive force of said spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
An electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, upper and lower bosses in said housing forming a rectangular passage and slidably supporting said rod only on its upper and lower sides, the free end of said upper leg having a pair of ears projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof in sliding contact with the side walls of said housing, said ears and said opposite sides of said rectangular body portion in respective sliding contact with the side walls of said housing providing the support for the push button actuator against lateral movement in the housing during reciprocation of the actuator and said bosses and said aperture in the end wall of said housing preventing the upward and downward movement of said actuator during reciprocal movement thereof.
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) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |