US3757060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In extreme position slide switch assembly with auxiliary switch deactivated by controller
Assignee: UNION CORP US
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Filing: 1972-06-12
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-06-12
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a miniaturized multi-position slide switch adapted for low voltage, low current applications, for example, so-called ''''shirt pocket'''' electronic calculators employing printed circuitry. Switch control elements of uniform configuration are arranged in a row in facing pairs in an insulating base, while an insulating cover for the base carries a track for a sliding contactor having a spring-biased steel ball. The base has a central longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross section in which the steel ball rides. Detenting is accomplished by a declining bevel or ramp connecting the V-groove to the Vshaped seat formed between the pairs of switch contact elements. One of the pairs of contact elements has a connector biased into normally closed contact therewith. At one extremity of its travel, the sliding contactor engages the connector and disengages it from contact with the contact elements. A dust shield in the form of an endless tape longitudinally surrounds the base and cover and has an opening through which the handle of the sliding contactor extends. The tape shield is thus shifted in an endless path by shifting of the sliding contactor.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ianuzzi
- 👤 D Mohney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/04; H01H13/06; H01H15/00; H01H15/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section and a transverse slot intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements in said slot forming a V-shaped seat therebetween of larger cross-section than said groove, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on the said recessed shoulder, a projection on the contactor that extends downwardly through said longitudinal slot and carries a plurality of superposed metal balls depending therefrom, and resilient means acting on said balls, the lowermost one of said balls being biased into seated engagement in said longitudinal groove by the other of said balls and resilient means and snapped suddenly outward into bridging contact with said pair of contact elements as said contactor shifts slidably toward said pair of contact elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section and a transverse slot intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements in said slot forming a V-shaped seat therebetween of larger cross-section than said groove, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on the said recessed shoulder, a projection on the contactor that extends downwardly through said longitudinal slot and carries a plurality of superposed metal balls depending therefrom, and resilient means acting on said balls, the lowermost one of said balls being biased into seated engagement in said longitudinal groove by the other of said balls and resilient means and snapped suddenly outward into bridging contact with said pair of contact elements as said contactor shifts slidably toward said pair of contact elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A slide switch according to claim 1, wherein said contactor has a bore therein normal to said longitudinal groove, wherein a cartridge is slidably mounted in said bore containing two superposed metal balls, and wherein spring means is the resilient means in said bore acts on the uppermost one of said metal balls to apply a biasing force to the said metal balls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A slide switch according to claim 1, wherein a sheet-metal cover surrounds said base and cover members to hold them in superposed adjacent positions, said cover having a Longitudinal slot through which a handle of said contactor extends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A slide switch according to claim 1, wherein a dust shield in the form of an endless tape longitudinally surrounds said base and cover members in close contact therewith, said tape having an opening through which a handle of said contactor extends and being shifted circuitously with sliding movement of said contactor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A slide switch according to claim 1, wherein said sheet-metal cover has formed integrally therewith a plurality of spaced projections serving as mounting legs for said switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A slide switch according to claim 3, wherein said base and cover members have a recess extending longitudinally therearound, and a dust shield in the form of an endless tape wider than the said longitudinal slot in said sheet-metal cover is disposed in said recess and longitudinally surrounds said base and cover member in close contact therewith, said tape having an opening through which the handle of said contactor extends and being shifted circuitously in said recess by sliding movement of said contactor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A slide switch according to claim 4, wherein spring means is interposed between said tape and the said base member to maintain said tape taut and in close contact with the top of said cover member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
153 words
A slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a section of said groove having an enlarged cross-section of V-shape, a transverse slot intercepting said groove in longitudinally spaced relation to said enlarged section of said groove, a pair of contact elements opposingly faced in said slot, a connector element normally biased into bridging contact with said pair of contact elements, a cover member of insulating material having a longitudinal slot and a recessed shoulder surrounding said slot, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder in said cover member and detenting means extending through said longitudinal slot and engageable with said enlarged section of said groove, said contactor being effective when the detenting means engages in the enlarged section of said groove, to engage said connector element and shift it out of bridging contact with said contact elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
153 words
A slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a section of said groove having an enlarged cross-section of V-shape, a transverse slot intercepting said groove in longitudinally spaced relation to said enlarged section of said groove, a pair of contact elements opposingly faced in said slot, a connector element normally biased into bridging contact with said pair of contact elements, a cover member of insulating material having a longitudinal slot and a recessed shoulder surrounding said slot, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder in said cover member and detenting means extending through said longitudinal slot and engageable with said enlarged section of said groove, said contactor being effective when the detenting means engages in the enlarged section of said groove, to engage said connector element and shift it out of bridging contact with said contact elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A slide switch according to claim 8, wherein said connector element comprises a ribbon type spring element having a S-shaped contour, one leg of the spring element normally bridging the contact elements and adapted to be engaged and resiliently bent out of bridging relation to the contact elements by said contactor when the detenting means engages in the enlarged section of said groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
188 words
A slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a section of said groove having an enlarged cross-section of V-shape, a transverse slot in longitudinally spaced relation to said enlarged section of said groove, one side of said slot being open to said groove and the other side having a ramp adjacent thereto, a pair of contact elements opposingly faced in said slot to provide a V-shaped seat, a metal ball seated in bridging relation to said pair of contact elements, means yieldingly biasing said ball into contact with said pair of contact elements, a cover member of insulating material having a longitudinal slot and a recessed shoulder surrounding said slot, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder in said cover member and detenting means engageable with said enlarged section of said groove, said contactor having a longitudinal projection which, when said detenting means engages in the enlarged section of said groove, contacts said metal ball and shifts it laterally out of the transverse slot up said ramp to disengage said contact elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
188 words
A slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a section of said groove having an enlarged cross-section of V-shape, a transverse slot in longitudinally spaced relation to said enlarged section of said groove, one side of said slot being open to said groove and the other side having a ramp adjacent thereto, a pair of contact elements opposingly faced in said slot to provide a V-shaped seat, a metal ball seated in bridging relation to said pair of contact elements, means yieldingly biasing said ball into contact with said pair of contact elements, a cover member of insulating material having a longitudinal slot and a recessed shoulder surrounding said slot, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder in said cover member and detenting means engageable with said enlarged section of said groove, said contactor having a longitudinal projection which, when said detenting means engages in the enlarged section of said groove, contacts said metal ball and shifts it laterally out of the transverse slot up said ramp to disengage said contact elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A multi-position slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a pluraliTy of longitudinally spaced transverse slots intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements forming a V-shaped seat therebetween disposed in each of said slots, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder and having a depending portion carrying a plurality of superposed metal balls yieldingly biased whereby the lowermost ball is urged into seated engagement within said longitudinal groove from which it is suddenly snapped outwardly selectively into bridging contact with certain ones of said pairs of contact elements as said contactor is shifted slidably on said recessed shoulder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
A multi-position slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a pluraliTy of longitudinally spaced transverse slots intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements forming a V-shaped seat therebetween disposed in each of said slots, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder and having a depending portion carrying a plurality of superposed metal balls yieldingly biased whereby the lowermost ball is urged into seated engagement within said longitudinal groove from which it is suddenly snapped outwardly selectively into bridging contact with certain ones of said pairs of contact elements as said contactor is shifted slidably on said recessed shoulder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A multi-position slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements forming a V-shaped seat therebetween disposed in each of said slots, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder and having a depending portion carrying a metal ball yieldingly biased into seated engagement within said longitudinal groove from which it is suddenly snapped outwardly selectively into bridging contact with certain ones of said pairs of contact elements as said contactor is shifted slidably on said recessed shoulder, and a connector element normally yieldingly biased into bridging relation to a pair of said contact elements at one end of said switch, and wherein said contactor engages said connector at one extremity of travel thereof to shift said connector element out of bridging relation to said contact elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A multi-position slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements forming a V-shaped seat therebetween disposed in each of said slots, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder and having a depending portion carrying a metal ball yieldingly biased into seated engagement within said longitudinal groove from which it is suddenly snapped outwardly selectively into bridging contact with certain ones of said pairs of contact elements as said contactor is shifted slidably on said recessed shoulder, and a connector element normally yieldingly biased into bridging relation to a pair of said contact elements at one end of said switch, and wherein said contactor engages said connector at one extremity of travel thereof to shift said connector element out of bridging relation to said contact elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
192 words
A multi-position slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements forming a V-shaped seat therebetween disposed in each of said slots, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder and having a depending portion carrying a metal ball yieldingly biased into seated engagement within said longitudinal groove from which it is suddenly snapped outwardly selectively into bridging contact with certain ones of said pairs of contact elements as said contactor is shifted slidably on said recessed shoulder, and wherein one of said transverse slots has a ramp at one side thereof and a ball is yieldingly biased into bridging contact with the pair of contact elements contained in said one transverse slot, and wherein said contactor has a longitudinal projection which engages said ball to shift it laterally up said ramp to disconnect the said pair of contact elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
192 words
A multi-position slide switch comprising a base member of insulating material having a longitudinal groove of V-shaped cross-section, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots intersecting said groove, a pair of opposingly faced contact elements forming a V-shaped seat therebetween disposed in each of said slots, a cover member of insulating material secured to said base member and having a longitudinal slot therethrough surrounded by a recessed shoulder, a contactor having a flat body of insulating material slidable on said recessed shoulder and having a depending portion carrying a metal ball yieldingly biased into seated engagement within said longitudinal groove from which it is suddenly snapped outwardly selectively into bridging contact with certain ones of said pairs of contact elements as said contactor is shifted slidably on said recessed shoulder, and wherein one of said transverse slots has a ramp at one side thereof and a ball is yieldingly biased into bridging contact with the pair of contact elements contained in said one transverse slot, and wherein said contactor has a longitudinal projection which engages said ball to shift it laterally up said ramp to disconnect the said pair of contact elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |