Switch control with lost motion actuator

Claim 2

A switch control comprising a housing; first and second terminals mounted to said housing; a resilient switch blade having an immobile portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said first terminal, and a mobile portion carrying a mobile switch contact; an immobile switch contact mounted within said housing adjacent said mobile switch contact and electrically connected to said second terminal; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to engage and move said resilient switch blade mobile portion; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; spring means mounted between said first and second actuating members to translate motion of said second actuating member relative to said switch blade to said first actuating member through said spring means; and stop means mounted within said housing adjacent said spring means to limit movement of said spring means and thereby limit the translation of motion of said second actuating member to said first actuating member.

Claim 3

A switch control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stop means is integrated with said housing.

Claim 4

A switch control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises two spaced walls limiting movement of said spring means therebetween.

Claim 5

A switch control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing defines a portal through which an external portion of said second actuating member may slidably pass.

Claim 6

A switch control in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing defines two cavities; said switch blade is mounted in one of said cavities; and said spring means is mounted in the other of said cavities.

Claim 7

A switch control in accordance with claim 5 wherein said housing defines a passageway communicating between said two cavities through which passageway said first actuating member may slidably pass.

Claim 8

A switch control in accordance with claim 1 comprising third and fourth terminals mounted to said housing; a second resilient switch blade having an immobile portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said third terminal, and a mobile portion; a second mobile switch contact mounted to said second switch blade mobile portion, a second immobile switch contact mounted within said housing adjacent said second mobile switch contact and electrically connected to said fourth terminal; and wherein said first actuating member has a notch through which said second switch blade mobile portion passes.

Claim 9

A switch control comprising a housing; first and second terminals mounted to said housing; a resilient switch blade having an immobile portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said first terminal, and a mobile portion having a mobile switch contact; and immobile switch contact mounted within said housing adjacent said mobile switch contact and electrically connected to said second terminal; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to engage and move said resilient switch blade mobile portion; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member for movement in unison with said first actuating member; said first and second actuating members defining aligned apertures; and a compression spring mounted within said aligned apertures.

Claim 10

A switch control comprising a housing; first and second terminals mounted to said housing; a resilient switch blade having an immobile portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected to said first terminal, and a mobile portion having a mobile switch contact; and immobile switch contact mounted within said housing adjacent said mobile switch contact and electrically connected to said second terminal; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to engage and move said resilient switch blade mobile portion; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member for movement in unison with said first actuating member; said first and second actuating members defining aligned apertures; and a compression spring mounted within said aligned apertures.

Claim 11

A switch control in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first actuating member has a first tab projecting into said first actuating member aperture; said second actuating member has a second tab projecting into said second actuating member aperture; and said compression spring has a first spring end and a second spring end with said first spring end mounted about said first tab and with said second spring end mounted about said second tab.

Claim 12

A switch control actuator adapted to be slidably mounted in a switch control housing which housing defines a cavity, a portal through which a portion of the actuator may pass from the housing cavity to the housing exterior, and two confronting spring stops, said switch control actuator comprising a first actuator bar member having a first longitudinal slot; a second actuator bar member having a second longitudinal slot in juxtaposition with said first longitudinal slot; and a compression spring mounted within said first and second longitudinal slots with a first spring end disposed adjacent the first spring stop and a second spring end disposed adjacent the second spring stop.

Claim 13

A switch control actuator adapted to be slidably mounted in a switch control housing which housing defines a cavity, a portal through which a portion of the actuator may pass from the housing cavity to the housing exterior, and two confronting spring stops, said switch control actuator comprising a first actuator bar member having a first longitudinal slot; a second actuator bar member having a second longitudinal slot in juxtaposition with said first longitudinal slot; and a compression spring mounted within said first and second longitudinal slots with a first spring end disposed adjacent the first spring stop and a second spring end disposed adjacent the second spring stop.

Claim 14

A switch control actuator in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first actuator bar member has a first longitudinal tab projecting from a first slot defining surface into said first longitudinal slot, and said second actuator bar member has a second longitudinal tab projecting from a second slot defining surface into said second longitudinal slot.

Claim 15

A switch control actuator in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first spring end is disposed about said first tab in contact with said first slot defining surface, and said second spring end is disposed about said second tab in contact with said second slot defining surface.

Claim 16

A switch control actuator in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first actuator bar member has a notch through which a portion of a switch blade may pass.

Claim 17

A switch control comprising a housing; first, second and third terminals mounted to said housing; first and second switch contacts mounted apart within said housing facing one another and electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; a switch blade having a fixed end portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected with said third terminal, and a free end disposed between said first and second switch contacts; a third switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said first switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; a fourth switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said second switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; and said second and fourth switch contacts being spaced apart a first distance when said first and third switch contacts are closed; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to actuate said switch blade; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; a compression spring of predetermined length uncompressed having a first spring end mounted to said first actuating member and a second spring end mounted to said second actuating member; and two spring stops affixed to said housing disposed apart a second distance facing said spring ends as with said second distance being at least as great as said spring predetermined uncompressed length plus said first distance.

Claim 18

A switch control comprising a housing; first, second and third terminals mounted to said housing; first and second switch contacts mounted apart within said housing facing one another and electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; a switch blade having a fixed end portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected with said third terminal, and a free end disposed between said first and second switch contacts; a third switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said first switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; a fourth switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said second switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; and said second and fourth switch contacts being spaced apart a first distance when said first and third switch contacts are closed; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to actuate said switch blade; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; a compression spring of predetermined length uncompressed having a first spring end mounted to said first actuating member and a second spring end mounted to said second actuating member; and two spring stops affixed to said housing disposed apart a second distance facing said spring ends as with said second distance being at least as great as said spring predetermined uncompressed length plus said first distance.

Claim 19

A switch control in accordance with claim 14 wherein said housing defines a portal through which a portion of said second actuating member projects.

Claim 20

A switch control comprising a housing; first, second and third terminals mounted to said housing; first and second switch contacts mounted apart within said housing facing one another and electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; a switch blade having a fixed end portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected with said third terminal, and a free end disposed between said first and second switch contacts; a third switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said first switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; a fourth switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said second switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; said second and fourth switch contacts being spaced apart a first distance when said first and third switch contacts are closed; a first actuating member comprising a first elongate bar movably mounted within said housing to actuate said switch blade; a second actuating member comprising a second elongate bar movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; said first and second elongate bars having aligned longitudinal slots; a compression spring of predetermined length uncompressed seated in said longitudinal slots and having a first spring end mounted to said first actuating member and a second spring end mounted to said second actuating member; and two spring stops disposed apart a second distance facing said spring ends with said second distance being at least as great as said spring predetermined uncompressed length plus said first distance.

Claim 21

A switch control comprising a housing; first, second and third terminals mounted to said housing; first and second switch contacts mounted apart within said housing facing one another and electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; a switch blade having a fixed end portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected with said third terminal, and a free end disposed between said first and second switch contacts; a third switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said first switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; a fourth switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said second switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; said second and fourth switch contacts being spaced apart a first distance when said first and third switch contacts are closed; a first actuating member comprising a first elongate bar movably mounted within said housing to actuate said switch blade; a second actuating member comprising a second elongate bar movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; said first and second elongate bars having aligned longitudinal slots; a compression spring of predetermined length uncompressed seated in said longitudinal slots and having a first spring end mounted to said first actuating member and a second spring end mounted to said second actuating member; and two spring stops disposed apart a second distance facing said spring ends with said second distance being at least as great as said spring predetermined uncompressed length plus said first distance.

Claim 22

A switch control comprising a housing; first, second and third terminals mounted to said housing; first and second switch contacts mounted apart within said housing facing one another and electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; a switch blade having a fixed end portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected with said third terminal, and a free end disposed between said first and second switch contacts; a third switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said first switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; a fourth switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said second switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; said second and fourth switch contacts being spaced apart a first distance when said first and third switch contacts are closed; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to actuate said switch blade; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; a compression spring of predetermined length uncompressed having a first spring end mounted to said first actuating member and a second spring end mounted to said second actuating member; and two spring stops forming integral portions of said housing disposed apart a second distance facing said spring ends with said second distance being at least as great as said spring predetermined uncompressed length plus said first distance.

Claim 23

A switch control comprising a housing; first, second and third terminals mounted to said housing; first and second switch contacts mounted apart within said housing facing one another and electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; a switch blade having a fixed end portion mounted within said housing and electrically connected with said third terminal, and a free end disposed between said first and second switch contacts; a third switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said first switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; a fourth switch contact on said switch blade free end to make and break contact with said second switch contact upon actuation of said switch blade; said second and fourth switch contacts being spaced apart a first distance when said first and third switch contacts are closed; a first actuating member movably mounted within said housing to actuate said switch blade; a second actuating member movably mounted within said housing adjacent said first actuating member; a compression spring of predetermined length uncompressed having a first spring end mounted to said first actuating member and a second spring end mounted to said second actuating member; and two spring stops forming integral portions of said housing disposed apart a second distance facing said spring ends with said second distance being at least as great as said spring predetermined uncompressed length plus said first distance.