US3863040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch mechanism
Assignee: Oak Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1974-02-14
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1994-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A switching mechanism has at least two terminals partly positioned within a housing and a reciprocal actuator within the housing. A coil spring, under endwise buckling pressure, is mounted between spaced portions of one of the terminals, with movement of the actuator causing the coil spring to pivotally move toward and away from another one of the terminals, thus controlling electrical contact between the two terminals. The coil spring, under endwise pressure by its supporting terminal member, in the normal buckled position, has its axis radially offset from the supporting portions of said terminal member.
Inventors
- 👤 Benschoten Peter J Van
- 👤 Jan Albert Kilsdonk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/56; H01H13/60; H01H13/02; H01H13/04; H01H13/26; H01H13/28; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/14; H01H1/24; H01H1/242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
In a switching mechanism, a housing, at least two terminals partly positioned within said housing, an actuator mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, return spring means positioned within said housing and normally biasing said actuator outwardly of said housing, and coil spring means pivotally mounted under endwise buckling pressure between spaced portions of one of said terminals, a slider positioned in one end of said coil spring means and bearing against one of said spaced terminal portions, endwise pressure applied by said spaced terminal portions causing saiD coil spring means to be flexed into electrical contact with another terminal, said slider being positioned for mechanical contact by said actuator for pivotally moving said coil spring means, about said spaced terminal portions, into and out of electrical contact with said other terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a switching mechanism, a housing, at least two terminals partly positioned within said housing, an actuator mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, return spring means positioned within said housing and normally biasing said actuator outwardly of said housing, and coil spring means pivotally mounted under endwise buckling pressure between spaced portions of one of said terminals, a slider positioned in one end of said coil spring means and bearing against one of said spaced terminal portions, endwise pressure applied by said spaced terminal portions causing saiD coil spring means to be flexed into electrical contact with another terminal, said slider being positioned for mechanical contact by said actuator for pivotally moving said coil spring means, about said spaced terminal portions, into and out of electrical contact with said other terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said spaced terminals portions are axially aligned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that the axis of said flexed coil spring, when in contact with said other terminal, is spaced from said aligned terminal portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a switching mechanism, a housing, three spaced terminals, each being at least partly positioned within said housing, an actuator mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, return spring means positioned within said housing and normally biasing said actuator outwardly of said housing, coil spring means pivotally mounted under endwise buckling pressure on an intermediate one of said terminals between spaced portions thereof, a slider positioned in one end of said coil spring means and bearing against one of said spaced terminal portions, endwise pressure applied by said spaced terminal portions causing said coil spring means to be flexed into electrical contact with another terminal, said slider being positioned for mechanical contact by said actuator for pivotally moving said spring means, about said spaced terminal portions, from contact with said other terminal, into similar contact with said third terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a switching mechanism, a housing, three spaced terminals, each being at least partly positioned within said housing, an actuator mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, return spring means positioned within said housing and normally biasing said actuator outwardly of said housing, coil spring means pivotally mounted under endwise buckling pressure on an intermediate one of said terminals between spaced portions thereof, a slider positioned in one end of said coil spring means and bearing against one of said spaced terminal portions, endwise pressure applied by said spaced terminal portions causing said coil spring means to be flexed into electrical contact with another terminal, said slider being positioned for mechanical contact by said actuator for pivotally moving said spring means, about said spaced terminal portions, from contact with said other terminal, into similar contact with said third terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said other terminal and said third terminal are positioned on opposite sides of said one terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that intermediate turns of said coil spring are in electrical contact with either said other terminal or said third terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said spaced terminal portions are aligned within said housing, with the axis of said coil spring being spaced from said aligned terminal portions when said coil spring is in contact with a terminal other than said intermediate terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said intermediate terminal has an opening therein, with said spaced terminal portions being formed at opposite ends of said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that movement of said coil spring from said other terminal to said third terminal causes said slider to be positioned, at least in part, within the confines of said actuator during movement of the slider.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 4 further characterized by and including cooperating means on said housing and actuator limiting movement of said actuator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a switching mechanism, a housing, at least two terminals partly positioned within said housing, an actuator mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, return spring means positioned within said housing and normally biasing said actuator outwardly of said housing, a spring support member positioned within said housing, a coil spring pivotally mounted to spaced portions of said spring support member with said spaced portions applying endwise collapsing pressure to said coil spring, a slider member mounted in an end coil of said spring and positioned for contact by said actuator, movement of said actuator into contact with said slider causing said coil spring to pivotally move about its supports and into and out of contact with one of said terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a switching mechanism, a housing, at least two terminals partly positioned within said housing, an actuator mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, return spring means positioned within said housing and normally biasing said actuator outwardly of said housing, a spring support member positioned within said housing, a coil spring pivotally mounted to spaced portions of said spring support member with said spaced portions applying endwise collapsing pressure to said coil spring, a slider member mounted in an end coil of said spring and positioned for contact by said actuator, movement of said actuator into contact with said slider causing said coil spring to pivotally move about its supports and into and out of contact with one of said terminals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure of claim 11 further characterized in that the spaced portions of said spring support member are aligned, with the axis of said coil spring being radially offset from said aligned portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 11 further characterized in that said spring support member functions as an electric terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 11 further characterized in that said terminals are positioned on one side of said spring suPport with movement of said coil spring into contact with a terminal causing said terminal to move into and out of contact with another terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2599437A
Cited
US3699296A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |