US3772484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual acting push button toggle switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-11
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1992-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A dual function electrical switch which can be operated either as a three position toggle switch or as a push button switch. The switch includes an elongated plunger-equipped actuator or operating shaft mounted within a casing, a toggle lever blade rockably mounted within the casing below the plunger, and a pair of switch levers pivotally mounted within the casing on opposite sides of the actuator. Each of the levers are engageable with one or more terminals which are mounted within the casing and extend outwardly therefrom. A pair of spring-biased plungers are carried by a cross shaft extending transversely through the actuator shaft and push the switch levers into electrical contact with their associated terminals when the actuator shaft is depressed longitudinally downwardly. When the actuator shaft is not depressed, it is pivotable out of its centered position to operate the toggle lever blade. Abutment means carried by the actuator shaft are cooperable with an opening in the top wall of the casing to prevent toggling action when the actuator shaft is depressed and to prevent push button action when the actuator shaft is pivoted. A flexible sealing boot hermetically seals the interior of the casing during both toggling and push button action.
Inventors
- 👤 J Roeser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H25/00; H01H25/008; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/12; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/12; H01H23/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of terminals within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, an elongated actuator mounted within the casing for longitudinal movement and for pivoting movement in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the actuator and extending generally parallel thereto, toggle switch means movably mounted within the casing below the actuator and adjacent at least one of said terminals whereby pivoting movement of the actuator moves the toggle switch means inTo and out of electrical contact with said one terminal, switch lever means mounted within the casing laterally of the actuator and adjacent another of said terminals, the actuator including pusher means for engaging the switch lever means and forcing the switch lever means into electrical contact with said other terminal when the actuator is moved longitudinally, and locking means on the casing and the actuator for preventing pivoting movement of the actuator when the actuator is moved longitudinally and for preventing longitudinal movement of the actuator when the actuator is pivoted whereby only one of the toggle switch means and the lever switch means may be actuated at a time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
An electrical switch comprising a casing, a plurality of terminals within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, an elongated actuator mounted within the casing for longitudinal movement and for pivoting movement in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the actuator and extending generally parallel thereto, toggle switch means movably mounted within the casing below the actuator and adjacent at least one of said terminals whereby pivoting movement of the actuator moves the toggle switch means inTo and out of electrical contact with said one terminal, switch lever means mounted within the casing laterally of the actuator and adjacent another of said terminals, the actuator including pusher means for engaging the switch lever means and forcing the switch lever means into electrical contact with said other terminal when the actuator is moved longitudinally, and locking means on the casing and the actuator for preventing pivoting movement of the actuator when the actuator is moved longitudinally and for preventing longitudinal movement of the actuator when the actuator is pivoted whereby only one of the toggle switch means and the lever switch means may be actuated at a time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
233 words
The switch of claim 1 in which the casing includes a top wall, the locking means including an opening in the top wall of the casing, the actuator extending outwardly from the casing through the opening in the top wall, and abutment means carried by the actuator, the actuator being moveable longitudinally between a first longitudinal position in which the switch lever means is not in electrical contact with said other terminal and a second longitudinal position in which the switch lever means is in electrical contact with said other terminal, the abutment means being positioned above the top wall of the casing when the actuator is in the first longitudinal position whereby the actuator can be pivoted without having the abutment means engage the periphery of the opening in the top wall of the casing, the abutment means being engageable with the periphery of the opening in the top wall of the casing when the actuator is in the second longitudinal position whereby the actuator is prevented from pivoting, the actuator being pivotable between centered and uncentered positions when the actuator is in the first longitudinal position, the abutment means being positioned over a portion of the top wall of the casing when the actuator is in the uncentered position whereby the abutment means in engageable with the top wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the actuator to the second longitudinal position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The switch of claim 2 in which the opening in the top wall of the casing and the abutment means have mating non-round peripheral portions whereby rotation of the actuator about its longitudinal axis is restrained when the actuator is in the second longitudinal position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The switch of claim 2 in which the actuator includes a push button mounted on the outer end thereof, the abutment means being provided by a collar on the push button which extends around at least a portion of the periphery of the actuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The switch of claim 1 including a generally hat-shaped flexible sealing boot surrounding the actuator and secured to the casing for hermetically sealing the interior of the casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
The switch of claim 1 including a generally hat-shaped flexible sealing boot having an outer peripheral flange, an upstanding perimetric side wall, and an annular top wall having a central opening therethrough, the actuator extending through the central opening of the top wall and being hermetically sealed to the top wall, the outer peripheral flange being hermetically sealed to the casing, the side wall of the boot being rollable inwardly with the top wall as the plunger is longitudinally depressed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The switch of claim 1 in which said switch lever means includes a lever having first and second lever arm portions engageable with the pusher means and a contact portion, the lever being pivotally mounted within the casing between said lever arm portions, the pusher means engaging the first lever arm portion when the actuator is not longitudinally depressed whereby the contact portion is held away from said other terminal, the pusher means engaging the second lever arm portion when the actuator is longitudinally depressed whereby the contact portion is forced into electrical contact with said other terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The switch of claim 7 in which said lever includes a pair of contact portions and is mounted adjacent a pair of terminals, each of the contact portions being forced into electrical contact with one said pair of terminals when the actuator is depressed longitudinally.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The switch of claim 7 in which the actuator includes an elongated operating shaft, said pusher means including a plunger mounted on the operating shaft for sliding movement transversely of the operating shaft and spring means for biasing the plunger transversely outwardly from the operating shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The switch of claim 1 in which the actuator includes an elongated operating shaft, said pusher means including a plunger mounted on the operating shaft for sliding movement transversely of the operating shaft and spring means for biasing the plunger transversely outwardly from the operating shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The switch of claim 10 including a washer mounted within the casing in a plane extending generally transversely to the operating shaft when the actuator is not pivoted, the washer including a pair of guide pins extending generally parallel to the operating shaft, the plunger extending between the guide pins whereby the plunger is guided into and out of engagement with the switch lever means as the actuator moves longitudinally.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The switch of claim 1 in which casing includes an inner wall provided with a slot extending generally parallel to the actuator, the pusher means extending through the slot and being slidable therein as the actuator means longitudinally, the pusher means being engageable with edges of the slots to prevent rotation of the actuator about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
The switch of claim 1 including second switch lever means mounted within the casing laterally of the actuator and opposite the first switch lever means, a terminal mounted within the casing adjacent the second switch lever means, the pusher means including a cross shaft extending transversely through the actuator and providing a pair of ends, a plunger slidably mounted on each end of the cross shaft, and spring means for biasing each plunger transversely outwardly from the actuator toward one of the switch lever means.
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) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |