Variable resistance control with differentially resilient contacts

Claim 1

A variable resistance control comprising a resistance element, a collector in spaced relationship to the resistance element, an electrically conductive contactor engaging the resistance element and the collector, means for moving the contactor intermediate the ends of the resistance element, said contactor comprising a circular ring, a pair of pivots extending outwardly from the body portion and pivotally supporting the contactor against the resistance element and the collector, each of the pivots being provided with an upturned end constraining the contactor to move with the above mentioned means, the circular body portion being creased through its pivots and defining a pair of semicircular sections, each of the semicircular sections of the circular body portion being preformed and defining an obtuse angle therebetween, a pair of outer arms extending tangentially outwardly from one of the semicircular sections and converging toward each other and joined together at the extremities, an outer contact carried by the arms, an inner arm extending radially outwardly from the one of the semicircular sections toward the outer contact, an inner contact carried by the end of the inner arm, and spaced from outer contact, the outer contact and the inner contact wipably engaging the resistance element, the outer arms defining an acute angle, and the inner arm bisecting the acute angle, the length of the outer arms being greater than the length of the inner arm resulting in a different rate for the inner arm and the outer arms, and a main contact carried by the circular body portion and wipably engaging the collector.