US3863182A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetically operated electrical switch
Assignee: Magsat Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-22
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1994-03-22
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch has a freely movable magnetic ball contact maintained in a first position out of engagement with at least one of a plurality of stationary electrical contacts by a permanent magnet. The ball contact is movable to a second position wherein it engages all of the contacts in response to magnetic influence exerted thereon by an iron rod carried by a reciprocally movable push button and disposed within a flux path of the magnet. The rod exerts greater magnetic influence on the ball contact than magnet during only an initial portion of push button travel toward a fully depressed position whereby to cause the ball contact to return to its first position in response to magnetic influence of the magnet before the push button reaches its fully depressed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd J Lapointe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H36/00; H01H41/00; H01H41/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
An electrical switch comprising a plurality of electrical contacts spaced from each other, a permanent magnet mounted in fixed position relative to said electrical contacts, a magnetic switching part disposed within the magnetic influence of said magnet and maintained in one switching position by the magnetic attraction of said magnet, said switching part in said one position being out of electrical contact with at least one of said electrical contacts and being movable to another position wherein it is in electrical contact with each of said electrical contacts, an operating part supported for movement relative to said electrical contacts and said magnet between first and second positions, a ferromagnetic element carried by said operating part and disposed within the magnetic influence of said magnet and in close proximity to said switching part when said operating part is in its first position and said switching part is in said one position, said ferromagnetic element exerting a greater magnetic attraction for said switching part than said magnet when said operating part is in its first position and during at least a portion of the travel of said operating part from its first toward its second position, said switching part being movable from its one to its other position with said operating part when the latter part is moved from its first toward its second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
An electrical switch comprising a plurality of electrical contacts spaced from each other, a permanent magnet mounted in fixed position relative to said electrical contacts, a magnetic switching part disposed within the magnetic influence of said magnet and maintained in one switching position by the magnetic attraction of said magnet, said switching part in said one position being out of electrical contact with at least one of said electrical contacts and being movable to another position wherein it is in electrical contact with each of said electrical contacts, an operating part supported for movement relative to said electrical contacts and said magnet between first and second positions, a ferromagnetic element carried by said operating part and disposed within the magnetic influence of said magnet and in close proximity to said switching part when said operating part is in its first position and said switching part is in said one position, said ferromagnetic element exerting a greater magnetic attraction for said switching part than said magnet when said operating part is in its first position and during at least a portion of the travel of said operating part from its first toward its second position, said switching part being movable from its one to its other position with said operating part when the latter part is moved from its first toward its second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ferromagnetic element exerts greater magnetic attraction for said switching part than said magnet during only the initial portion of the travel of said operating part from its first toward its second position, said switching part attains its other position in response to movement of said operating part from its first toward its second position before said operating part attains its second position, said magnet exerts greater attraction for said switching part than said ferromagnetic element after said switching part attains its other position and said switching part moves from its other position to its one position in response to magnetic attraction of said magnet during the final portion of the travel of said operating part from its first toward its second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical contacts comprise three stationary contacts, said switching part passes through an intermediate position wherein it is in electrical contact with two of said contacts in traveling from its one to its other position, and said switching part remains in electrical contact with said two contacts during its movement from said intermediate position to its other position in response to movement of said operating part from its first toward its second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 3 wherein said switching part comprises a ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical switcH as set forth in claim 4 wherein said ferromagnetic element comprises a rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch includes a hollow housing which has a bore, said electrical contacts comprise stationary contacts fixedly mounted in said housing, said operating part comprises a push button which has a hollow shank slidably received in said bore, and said switching part is disposed generally within said hollow shank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical switch has set forth in claim 6 wherein said switching part comprises a ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 7 wherein one of said stationary contacts partially defines said bore, said shank has a slot therein adjacent said one stationary contact, and said ball engages said one stationary contact in said one switching position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 8 wherein said one stationary contact comprises means for supporting said magnet in fixed position in said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 7 wherein said ferromagnetic element comprises a rod which extends transversely of said shank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch includes means for biasing said operating part in one direction toward its first position and said ferromagnetic element comprises means for limiting movement of said operating part in said one direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrical switch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said switch includes a housing which has a slot therein, said operating member is supported by said housing for movement relative thereto, and said ferromagnetic element comprises a rod received in said slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |