US3794944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reed switches and process for making them
Assignee: Bank of America Illinois
•
Filing: 1972-09-18
•
Granted: 1974-02-26
•
Expires: 1992-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A reed switch is provided preferably with an envelope noncircular and in particular a flattened oval in cross section. Reed switch elements, each having a reed section, a sealing section and a lead section are sealed into the envelope along a part less than the total length of the sealing section, the unsealed part of the sealing section being in close engagement with the inner wall of the envelope. A method of making a reed switch is provided wherein reed switch elements each including a reed section, a sealing section and a lead section are inserted into a tube, preferably non-circular, the sealing section of the elements and the interior of the tube being so closely dimensioned as to permit them to locate the reed sections with respect to one another before and during a sealing process. In the preferred method, a multiplicity of pairs of switch elements are inserted in a glass tube of oval cross section, lengthwise of the tube, and sealed in place in a horizontal position, providing symmetrical sealed joints, and thereafter the tube offal between the switches is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 V Morrill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H11/00; H01H11/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
In a reed switch having a fusible glass envelope non-circular in cross section, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in fused sealing areas of said envelope each of said switch elements including a reed section and a sealing section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of greater effective cross-sectional area than the said reed section and bearing against the inner wall of the said envelope in an unfused area of said envelope beyond the said sealing area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a reed switch having a fusible glass envelope non-circular in cross section, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in fused sealing areas of said envelope each of said switch elements including a reed section and a sealing section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of greater effective cross-sectional area than the said reed section and bearing against the inner wall of the said envelope in an unfused area of said envelope beyond the said sealing area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The reed switch of claim 1 wherein the said reed-section-enclosing portion of the envelope is oval in transverse cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reed switch of claim 1 wherein the envelope is made of glass and the thickness of the glass wall through the reed-section-enclosing portion is of the order of magnitude of 12 mils.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reed switch of claim 1 wherein the overall length of the said envelope iS less than three-fourths of an inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said sealing section of the switch element and the inner wall of the envelope constitute the sole locating and positioning means for said switch element in five of the six possible degrees of freedom when the said element is being sealed in the said envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the area of bearing of said sealing section is inboard of the said sealing area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said reed sections are parallel to one another and each lies against the inner surface of the envelope throughout the length of the reed section when said reeds are in their relaxed condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the reed section and sealing section of the switch elements are stepped on one side and flush and aligned on the other side with respect to one another and said switch elements are oriented 180* in translation and rotation from and with respect to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a reed switch having a fusible glass envelope non-circular in cross setion, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in sealing areas of said envelope each of said switch elements having a reed section, a sealing section, and a lead section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of greater cross-sectional area than the said reed section, being sealed in said sealing area through less than the full length of the said sealing section and bearing against an undistorted portion of the inner wall of the said envelope in an area of said envelope immediately beyond the said sealing area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a reed switch having a fusible glass envelope non-circular in cross setion, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in sealing areas of said envelope each of said switch elements having a reed section, a sealing section, and a lead section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of greater cross-sectional area than the said reed section, being sealed in said sealing area through less than the full length of the said sealing section and bearing against an undistorted portion of the inner wall of the said envelope in an area of said envelope immediately beyond the said sealing area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A reed switch assembly comprising a multiplicity of reed elements, pairs of which form separate reed switches, each of said reed elements having a reed section and a sealing section, sealing sections of successive ones of said switches being integrally connected, said integrally connected said sealing sections being directly sealed in and to a common envelope.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A reed switch assembly comprising a multiplicity of reed elements, pairs of which form separate reed switches, each of said reed elements having a reed section and a sealing section, sealing sections of successive ones of said switches being integrally connected, said integrally connected said sealing sections being directly sealed in and to a common envelope.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
The reed switch assembly of claim 10 wherein the envelope is non-circular, the sealing sections bear against the inner wall of the envelope beyond the respective sealing areas of the envelope and the sealing section and inner wall of the envelope constitute the sole locating and positioning means for the switch elements in five of the six possible degrees of freedom when the said elements are being sealed in the said envelope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a reed switch having an envelope non-circular in cross section, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in sealing areas of said envelope, each of said switch elements including a reed section and a sealing section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the inner wall of the envelope, and being so closely dimensioned with respect to said inner wall that the said sealing section and inner wall constitute the locating and positioning means for said switch element in five of the six possible degrees of freedom when the said element is being sealed in said envelope.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a reed switch having an envelope non-circular in cross section, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in sealing areas of said envelope, each of said switch elements including a reed section and a sealing section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the inner wall of the envelope, and being so closely dimensioned with respect to said inner wall that the said sealing section and inner wall constitute the locating and positioning means for said switch element in five of the six possible degrees of freedom when the said element is being sealed in said envelope.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A reed switch assembly comprising a common envelope non-circular in cross setion and a multiplicity of switch elements each of said switch elements having a sealing section and at least one reed section, each of said sealing sections being of a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the inner wall of the said envelope and being so closely dimensioned with respect to said inner wall that the said sealing section and inner wall constitute the locating and positioning means for said switch elements in five of the six possible degrees of freedom of said elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
A reed switch assembly comprising a common envelope non-circular in cross setion and a multiplicity of switch elements each of said switch elements having a sealing section and at least one reed section, each of said sealing sections being of a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the inner wall of the said envelope and being so closely dimensioned with respect to said inner wall that the said sealing section and inner wall constitute the locating and positioning means for said switch elements in five of the six possible degrees of freedom of said elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
A reed switch comprising a non-circular envelope having a straight inner wall through a reed-enclosing length, a pair of switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope, each of said elements having a reed section, a sealing section and a lead sectioN, a portion of said sealing section bearing against a portion of said straight inner wall and serving as a switch element-locating means therewith, and said reed section constituting an extension thereof, one side of said reed section extending along said straight inner wall and bearing lightly throughout its length against said straight inner wall, said reed section being stepwardly offset from the said sealing section on the side of the reed section opposite the side which bears against the said straight inner wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
A reed switch comprising a non-circular envelope having a straight inner wall through a reed-enclosing length, a pair of switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope, each of said elements having a reed section, a sealing section and a lead sectioN, a portion of said sealing section bearing against a portion of said straight inner wall and serving as a switch element-locating means therewith, and said reed section constituting an extension thereof, one side of said reed section extending along said straight inner wall and bearing lightly throughout its length against said straight inner wall, said reed section being stepwardly offset from the said sealing section on the side of the reed section opposite the side which bears against the said straight inner wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a reed switch having a fusible glass envelope non-circular in cross section, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in fused sealing areas of said envelope, each of said switch elements including a reed section, a sealing section, and a lead section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of greater cross-sectional area than the said reed section and being of a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the inner wall of the envelope and being so closely dimensioned with respect to said inner wall that the said sealing section and inner wall constitute the sole locating and positioning means for said switch element in five of the six possible degrees of freedom when the said element is being sealed in said envelope, said sealing section being sealed in said sealing area through less than the full length of the said sealing section and bearing against an unfused area of said envelope beyond and inboard of the said sealing area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a reed switch having a fusible glass envelope non-circular in cross section, and switch elements sealed in opposite ends of said envelope in fused sealing areas of said envelope, each of said switch elements including a reed section, a sealing section, and a lead section, the improvement comprising said sealing section being of greater cross-sectional area than the said reed section and being of a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the inner wall of the envelope and being so closely dimensioned with respect to said inner wall that the said sealing section and inner wall constitute the sole locating and positioning means for said switch element in five of the six possible degrees of freedom when the said element is being sealed in said envelope, said sealing section being sealed in said sealing area through less than the full length of the said sealing section and bearing against an unfused area of said envelope beyond and inboard of the said sealing area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein one side of said reed section constitutes an extension of the surface of the sealing section and lies against the inner surface of the envelope throughout the length of the reed section when the reed is in its relaxed condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3124670A
Cited
US3134868A
Cited
US3098908A
Cited
US3310863A
Cited
US3388463A
Cited
US3539956A
Cited
US3599129A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |