US3828148A — Multi-position electrical switch and spring biasi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 318 words

A multi-position electrical switch comprising a casing, a set of terminals mounted within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of switch levers pivotally mounted within the casing, each switch lever being pivotable between a first position in which it is out of engagement with the terminals of said set and a second position in which it engages at least one of the terminals of said set, an elongated actuator pivotally mounted within the casing and being selectively movable between a centered position and any one of a plurality of uncentered positions, each of the switch levers extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator is in the centered position and being pivotally mounted on a fulcrum positioned intermediate the ends of the lever to provide a first lever arm portion extending inwardly from the fulcrum relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator is in the centered position and a second lever arm portion extending outwardly from the fulcrum relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator, the actuator comprising a plunger telescopingly mounted on an elongated shaft, a spring mounted on the actuator for urging the plunger to telescopingly extend, the plunger engaging the first lever arm portion of each switch lever when in the centered position whereby the second lever arm portion is biased away from the associated terminal of said set, the actuator being movable to move the plunger over one of the fulcrums to engage the second lever arm portion of the lever supported by said one fulcrum when the actuator is moved to each of the uncentered positions whereby the second lever arm portion of the switch lever is forced into engagement with the associated terminal of said set, movement of the actuator from the first lever arm portion to the second lever arm portion causing telescoping retraction of the plunger.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 318 words

A multi-position electrical switch comprising a casing, a set of terminals mounted within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of switch levers pivotally mounted within the casing, each switch lever being pivotable between a first position in which it is out of engagement with the terminals of said set and a second position in which it engages at least one of the terminals of said set, an elongated actuator pivotally mounted within the casing and being selectively movable between a centered position and any one of a plurality of uncentered positions, each of the switch levers extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator is in the centered position and being pivotally mounted on a fulcrum positioned intermediate the ends of the lever to provide a first lever arm portion extending inwardly from the fulcrum relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator is in the centered position and a second lever arm portion extending outwardly from the fulcrum relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator, the actuator comprising a plunger telescopingly mounted on an elongated shaft, a spring mounted on the actuator for urging the plunger to telescopingly extend, the plunger engaging the first lever arm portion of each switch lever when in the centered position whereby the second lever arm portion is biased away from the associated terminal of said set, the actuator being movable to move the plunger over one of the fulcrums to engage the second lever arm portion of the lever supported by said one fulcrum when the actuator is moved to each of the uncentered positions whereby the second lever arm portion of the switch lever is forced into engagement with the associated terminal of said set, movement of the actuator from the first lever arm portion to the second lever arm portion causing telescoping retraction of the plunger.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

The switch of claim 1 in which each switch lever extends at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator engages the second lever arm portion thereof whereby the spring tends to extend the plunger and to move the plunger over the fulcrum of the switch lever toward the first lever arm portion of the switch lever.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The switch of claim 1 including a support terminal pivotally supporting each switch lever, each switch lever being pivotable into engagement with a pair of the terminals of said set.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The switch of claim 1 including a lever spring mounted within the casing for each switch lever, each lever spring biasing the associated switch lever away from the associated terminal of said set.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 186 words

A multi-position electrical switch comprising a casing, a set of terminals mounted within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, four switch levers pivotally mounted within the casing around the longitudinal axis thereof, each switch lever being pivotable between a first position in which it is out of engagement with the terminals of said set and a second position in which it engages at least one of the terminals of said set, an elongated actuator having a mounting ball received by a socket provided within the casing for pivotally mounting the actuator within the casing, the actuator being selectively movable between a centered position in which it is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the casing and any one of four uncentered positions in which one of the switch levers is forced into engagement with the associated terminal of said set by the actuator, and guide means on the casing for preventing movement of the actuator into more than one of the uncentered positions at a time whereby only one switch lever is forced into engagement with a terminal when the actuator is in an uncentered position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 186 words

A multi-position electrical switch comprising a casing, a set of terminals mounted within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, four switch levers pivotally mounted within the casing around the longitudinal axis thereof, each switch lever being pivotable between a first position in which it is out of engagement with the terminals of said set and a second position in which it engages at least one of the terminals of said set, an elongated actuator having a mounting ball received by a socket provided within the casing for pivotally mounting the actuator within the casing, the actuator being selectively movable between a centered position in which it is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the casing and any one of four uncentered positions in which one of the switch levers is forced into engagement with the associated terminal of said set by the actuator, and guide means on the casing for preventing movement of the actuator into more than one of the uncentered positions at a time whereby only one switch lever is forced into engagement with a terminal when the actuator is in an uncentered position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The switch of claim 5 including a supporting terminal for pivotally supporting each switch lever, each switch lever being pivotable into engagement with a pair of the terminals of said set.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 174 words

The switch of claim 5 in which each lever extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator is in the centered position and is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum positioned intermediate the ends of the lever to provide a first lever arm portion extending inwardly from the fulcrum relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator is in the centered position and a second lever arm portion extending outwardly from the fulcrum relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator, one end of the actuator engaging the first lever arm portion of each lever when in the centered position whereby the second lever arm portion is biased away from the associated terminal, the actuator being movable over one of the fulcrums to engage the second lever arm portion of the lever supported by said one fulcrum when the actuator is moved to each of the uncentered positions whereby the second lever arm portion of the lever is forced into engagement with the associated terminal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The switch of claim 5 in which the actuator comprises a plunger telescopingly mounted on an elongated shaft, movement of the actuator from the first lever arm portion to the second lever arm portion causing telescoping retraction of the plunger.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The switch of claim 6 including a spring mounted on the actuator for urging the plunger to telescopingly extend.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 96 words

The switch of claim 5 including a generally conical spring surrounding the actuator and having a wide end and a narrow end, the narrow end of the spring engaging the plunger and the wide end of the spring engaging the casing between the plunger and the pivotal mounting of the actuator within the casing whereby the spring provides a return force on the actuator when the actuator is moved to one of the uncentered positions and the plunger is telescopingly retracted which tends to extend the plunger and to return the actuator to the centered position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 113 words

The switch of claim 5 in which the actuator comprises a plunger telescopingly mounted on an elongated shaft and a spring mounted on the actuator for urging the plunger to telescopingly extend, movement of the actuator from the first lever arm portion to the second lever arm portion causing telescoping retraction of the plunger against the bias of the spring, each lever extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator when the actuator engages the second lever arm portion thereof whereby the spring tends to extend the plunger and to move the plunger over the fulcrum of the lever toward the first lever arm portion of the lever.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

The switch of claim 5 in which the ball includes a pair of outwardly extending projections at generally diametrically opposed locations, the projections being slidably received in slots provided within the casing for movement in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the casing and parallel thereto for preventing rotation of the actuator about the longitudinal axis thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

The structure of claim 12 including an O-ring mounted wiThin the casing below the equator of the mounting ball and sealingly engaging the ball to hermetically seal the interior of the casing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

The structure of claim 5 in which the guide means includes a wall on the casing between each adjacent pair of levers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 49 words

The structure of claim 5 in which the guide means is provided by an upper portion of the casing having a generally cruciform central opening providing four recesses extending generally radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the casing, the actuator being selectively movable into each of the recesses.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 114 words

Actuating means for an electrical switch comprising casing means provided with a central recess, an elongated shaft extending into the central recess of the casing and having an actuated end and an actuating end, switch means engageable with the actuating end of the shaft for movement thereby, a mounting ball on the shaft intermediate the ends of the shaft, the casing means being provided with socket means and the mounting ball being received by the socket means, and an O-ring formed of resilient material received by a recess provided in the casing means below the equator of the ball of the shaft and sealingly engaging the ball as the ball moves within the socket.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 114 words

Actuating means for an electrical switch comprising casing means provided with a central recess, an elongated shaft extending into the central recess of the casing and having an actuated end and an actuating end, switch means engageable with the actuating end of the shaft for movement thereby, a mounting ball on the shaft intermediate the ends of the shaft, the casing means being provided with socket means and the mounting ball being received by the socket means, and an O-ring formed of resilient material received by a recess provided in the casing means below the equator of the ball of the shaft and sealingly engaging the ball as the ball moves within the socket.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 79 words

The structure of claim 16 including a pair of projections extending outwardly from the ball at generally diametrically opposed locations, the casing having walls defining generally planar slots which receive the projections, the projections being engageable with the walls of the slots to prevent rotation of the ball about the longitudinal axis of the shaft but being movable within the plane of slots to permit rotation of the ball about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The structure of claim 16 in which the recess for the O-ring surrounds the ball and includes upper and lower walls which extend generally toward the center of the ball.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 54 words

The structure of claim 16 in which the recess is provided by a groove in a portion of the casing, the groove lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the central recess of the casing, and an annular washer secured above the groove and retaining the O-ring in the groove.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

The structure of claim 16 including guide means on the shaft and the casing for restricting movement of the shaft in two generally perpendicular planes which extend through the longitudinal axis of the central recess and generally parallel thereto.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The structure of claim 16 including at least one projection extending outwardly from the ball and lying in a plane which is both perpendicular to the center line of the shaft and intersects the center of the ball.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 201 words

In a multi-position electrical switch having a casing, a pair of terminals within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, contact means movably mounted within the casing and being movable between a first position in which it is electrically connected to one of the terminals but not the other terminal and a second position in which it is electrically connected to both terminals, an elongated actuator within the casing having an end engaging the contact means, means on the actuator and the casing for pivotally mounting the actuator, the actuator being pivotable between a centered position in which said end of the actuator maintains the contact means in the first position and an uncentered position in which said end of the actuator forces the contact means into the second position, an improved actuator centering means comprising a generally conical spring surrounding the actuator and having a wide end and a narrow end, the narrow end engaging the actuator and the wide end engaging the casing between the narrow end and pivotal mounting means whereby the spring provides a return force on the actuator when the actuator is moved to the uncentered position which tends to return the actuator to the centered position.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 201 words

In a multi-position electrical switch having a casing, a pair of terminals within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, contact means movably mounted within the casing and being movable between a first position in which it is electrically connected to one of the terminals but not the other terminal and a second position in which it is electrically connected to both terminals, an elongated actuator within the casing having an end engaging the contact means, means on the actuator and the casing for pivotally mounting the actuator, the actuator being pivotable between a centered position in which said end of the actuator maintains the contact means in the first position and an uncentered position in which said end of the actuator forces the contact means into the second position, an improved actuator centering means comprising a generally conical spring surrounding the actuator and having a wide end and a narrow end, the narrow end engaging the actuator and the wide end engaging the casing between the narrow end and pivotal mounting means whereby the spring provides a return force on the actuator when the actuator is moved to the uncentered position which tends to return the actuator to the centered position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 69 words

The structure of claim 22 in which the actuator includes a plungEr telescopingly mounted on an elongated shaft and providing said actuator end engaging the contact means, the narrow end of the spring engaging the plunger, movement of the actuator from the centered position to the uncentered position causing the plunger to telescopingly retract as the plunger moves the contact means from the first position to the second position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-08-05	1978-02-04	1978-08-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-08-05	1982-02-04	1982-08-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-08-05	1986-02-04	1986-08-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-position electrical switch and spring biasing means for universal-type actuator

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