Alternate action switch convertible to momentary by putting latch on different pivot

Claim 2

In combination, switch contact actuating means, and means for effecting movement of said actuating means, said means comprising a carrier and a pawl integrally joined to said carrier and engageable with said actuating means, the integral joint of the pawl with the carrier constituting at least one bridge of resilient material that forms a torsion spring and surrounds a pivot axis at which the pawl rotates without significant longitudinal bending upon engagement with said actuating means, a base; said actuating means including a ratchet pivotally mounted on said base and engaged by said pawl, and means cooperating with said ratchet to locate the ratchet for selective movement between two positions with a toggle action or optionally to locate the ratchet for movement between two positions with said ratchet being biased toward only one of said last-named two positions; said last-named means comprising a lever, and means for optionally mounting the lever for movement aBout either of two pivot axes relative to said base.

Claim 3

A switch having a switch contact with first and second positions, and actuating mechanism operable in a first mode for moving said contact from each position to the other position with a toggle action and operable in a second mode for moving said contact from the first position to the second position in opposition to a force tending to bias said contact to said first position; said mechanism including rotatable means operable in said first mode for toggling to each of two positions corresponding to said first and second contact positions, latching means operable in said first mode for engaging predetermined latching regions of said rotatable means for retaining said rotatable means in the position to which it has been toggled, and means by which the position of the latching means may be shifted for operation in said second mode, said latching means in said second mode engaging said rotatable means in other predetermined regions and at which said latching means remains unlatched from said rotatable member and imposes a force on said rotatable member tending to bias it only to its first position; said latching means comprising a lever, spring means biasing said lever against said rotatable means, and means forming discrete pivotal supports for different positions of the lever in the respective modes.

Claim 4

A switch having a switch contact with first and second positions, and actuating mechanism operable in a first mode for moving said contact from each position to the other position with a toggle action and operable in a second mode for moving said contact from the first position to the second position in opposition to a force tending to bias said contact to said first position; said mechanism including rotatable means operable in said first mode for toggling to each of two positions corresponding to said first and second contact positions, latching means operable in said first mode for engaging predetermined latching regions of said rotatable means for retaining said rotatable means in the position to which it has been toggled, and means by which the position of the latching means may be shifted for operation in said second mode, said latching means in said second mode engaging said rotatable means in other predetermined regions and at which said latching means remains unlatched from said rotatable member and imposes a force on said rotatable member tending to bias it only to its first position; said latching means comprising a lever, spring means biasing said lever against said rotatable means, and means forming discrete pivotal supports for different positions of the lever in the respective modes.

Claim 5

A switch comprising a housing, at least one fixed contact and at least one movable switch contact in said housing, a ratchet rotatable in said housing and having a camming portion for bearing against said movable contact, a carrier in said housing and having a pawl movable toward and away from said ratchet, a spring-biased lever mounted in one operative position in said housing and having means for latching engagement with said ratchet at predetermined regions to latch the ratchet to either of two selected positions to which said ratchet has been shifted by said pawl and in which in one of said positions said camming portion has urged said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, means for mounting said lever in a second operative position in which the lever is wholly displaced from said one operative position, said lever in said second operative position having said latching means displaced from said predetermined regions for non-latching engagement with said ratchet as the latter is shifted by said pawl to move said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact such that the spring bias of the lever moves the movable contact away from the fixed contact upon retraction of said pawl from said ratchet.

Claim 6

A switch comprising a housing, at least one fixed contact and at least one movable switch contact in said housing, a ratchet rotatable in said housing and having a camming portion for bearing against said movable contact, a carrier in said housing and having a pawl movable toward and away from said ratchet, a spring-biased lever mounted in one operative position in said housing and having means for latching engagement with said ratchet at predetermined regions to latch the ratchet to either of two selected positions to which said ratchet has been shifted by said pawl and in which in one of said positions said camming portion has urged said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact, means for mounting said lever in a second operative position in which the lever is wholly displaced from said one operative position, said lever in said second operative position having said latching means displaced from said predetermined regions for non-latching engagement with said ratchet as the latter is shifted by said pawl to move said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact such that the spring bias of the lever moves the movable contact away from the fixed contact upon retraction of said pawl from said ratchet.

Claim 7

A switch according to claim 3 in which said housing has an opening for access to said lever to shift the same selectively for mounting in either of its two operative positions.

Claim 8

A switch according to claim 4 in which said housing has means for pivotally supporting the lever for movement about spaced parallel axes, one axis being for each of said two operative positions.

Claim 9

A switch according to claim 3 in which said predetermined regions are notches in the ratchet and said means for latching is a nose member on said lever.

Claim 10

A switch according to claim 4 in which said lever has a hole exposed to said opening for engagement by a tool for manipulating said lever.

Claim 11

A switch according to claim 3 including a push button for actuating said carrier, spring means biasing said push button and carrier to a non-actuating position away from said ratchet, a lamp bulb within said push button, and lamp bulb terminals engaging said lamp to provide a circuit therethrough.

Claim 12

A switch according to claim 8 wherein said lamp bulb terminals are electrically connected to said spring means to maintain electrical continuity through said lamp bulb in the actuated or non-actuated position of the push button.